Symphony of the Hawai‘i Forests: Reflections on Ka Wai Ke Kumu Ola (2023) Full orchestraRe-Vanishing Act (2013-15)
for violin, piano, and percussion
duration: 9 minutes
Percussion List:
Temple Blocks (5), Woodblock, Kick Drum (Pedal Bass Drum), Tam-Tam, Sizzle Cymbal, Suspended Cymbal, Triangle, Shaker, Tambourine, Metal Pipes (2), Brake Drum, Bell Tree, Bongos (2), Guiro, Cowbell, Agogo Bells (2), Vibraslap, Ratchet, Flexatone, Crotales (E, F#, B) unmounted, w/ water
Program Notes
I like to cheer for the underdogs, even in the most inane situations. So when I learned about the instrumentation of the Varied Trio, my initial thought was how inherently unfair it seemed for the percussionist to be playing alongside two instruments that have such a strong and historical bond of performing alongside each other. Naturally, my inclination was to find ways to make sure the percussionist didn’t become the third wheel that would only be trying to blend into the texture dominated by the piano and the violin. Instead, my solution (and the challenge) I set for myself was to flip the usual role of the percussionist on its head by having her be the instigator of sounds, and have the pianist and the violinist match or blend into the percussive sounds (and “vanish” into each sonic event). Given how different the instruments are from one another, this is often an impossible task to literally achieve, but the concept served as a catalyst for the entire piece.
The piece was premiered in 2014 as Vanishing Act, but has undergone significant revisions in 2015 – enough to warrant a slightly new title.