︎︎︎Info

Title

Comblé

Inventory

orchestra

Year

2010

Duration

18’

Commission

-

Publisher

Premiere

December 9, 2010
Morse Recital Hall, Sprague Hall
Yale School of Music
New Haven, CT (US)

Philharmonia Orchestra of Yale
Adrian Slywotzky, cond

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︎︎︎Detailed Inventory

2 flutes
oboe
English horn
clarinet in Bb
bass clarinet in Bb
bassoon
contrabassoon

2 French horns (with practice mutes)
2 trumpets in C (with practice mutes)
trombone (with practice mute)
bass trombone (with practice mute)

2 percussionists

1 *

mylar plastic

sandpaper blocks (1)

tin foil

rainstick (1)

tam-tam

‘cello or double bass bow

2 **

vibraphone

styrofoam (two pieces, one small and one large (stationary on table))

sandpaper blocks (2)

paper bag

rainstick (2)

sizzle cymbal (suspended)

‘cello or double bass bow

harp
upright piano with practice mute or sampler ***

7 first violins (divided 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7)
5 second violins (divided 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5)
4 violas
4 violoncelli
2 double basses

(this is the minimum number of string players since all parts are soloistic. for larger orchestras, it is advisable to double the number of strings for a total of: 14.10.8.8.4.)

* percussion 1 plays mylar plastic, sandpaper blocks (1), tin foil, rainstick (1) and tam-tam. of these instruments, all but the tam-tam and rainstick (1) should be placed on a stand and amplified. the sound of the mylar plastic, sandpaper blocks (1) and tin foil must be dry and distinct and even though played very softly it should be clearly heard in relation to the music in the rest of the orchestra.

** percussion 2 plays vibraphone, styrofoam, sandpaper blocks (2), paper bag, rainstick (2) and sizzle cymbal (suspended). of these instruments, all but the vibraphone, sizzle cymbal and rainstick (2) should be placed on a stand and amplified. the sound of the styrofoam, sandpaper blocks (2) and paper bag must be dry and distinct and even though played very softly it should be clearly heard in relation to the music in the rest of the orchestra.

*** the piano must be equipped with a practice mute (usually, a special button like an organ stop or a position on the middle pedal is used to engage a soft felt carpet that dampens the sound of the strings before the hammer hits the string). the sound is extremely soft and mellow and must be amplified in order to be heard. two condenser microphones should be used, positioned very close to the strings, one for the low register and one for the high register. if the appropriate instrument cannot be procured, an electronic substitute is available from the publisher.

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︎︎︎Note

‘Comblé’ was written July-October 2010 in Stockholm, New Haven and New York. It was written for the Yale Philharmonia. It is dedicated to the memory of Arman Esmailzadeh Anari.

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︎︎︎Score Excerpts