Full
orchestra.
3(+picc)/3/3(+bass cl)/3(+cbn); 4/3/3/1; timp;
Percussion requirements
Percussion
1
Percussion
2
Percussion
3
- marimba
- vibraphone
- maraca
- gong (A3)
- vibraslap
- 2 bongos
- sizzle cymbal
- bass drum
- lion's roar
- whip
- large tam tam
- chimes
- flexatone
- bass drum
- tambourine
- crotales
- large tam tam
- guiro
- ratchet
3
perc; harp; strings
Timing: 3'40"
Composed: 1994
- marimba
- vibraphone
- maraca
- gong (A3)
- vibraslap
- 2 bongos
- sizzle cymbal
- bass drum
- lion's roar
- whip
- large tam tam
- chimes
- flexatone
- bass drum
- tambourine
- crotales
- large tam tam
- guiro
- ratchet
Commissioned by the Cleveland Orchestra.
Programme Notes
The title Ricochet was suggested by the string technique of a bouncing bow, but the picture is of a rubber ball thrown against a solid object, which then ricochets into another solid object. In this piece, this bouncing image is depicted at different rates of time. After an initial "wind-up," the music ricochets at first in slow motion. After each subsequent rebound, the music accelerates a little, so that by the final bounce, it is moving in real time again. In a final parting gesture, the ball, now low on kinetic energy, bounces off into the distance.