Horvit-Interplay(2S)-P/5T/X/2M/Crot/V

Interplay by Michael Horvit for percussion quartet. The title indicates the intention. The first movement is contrapuntal, featuring multi-pitched sets of drums imitating and interacting with each other, supported by a steady rhythmic background which passes about the group. The second movement is coloristic; beginning tentatively with splashes of varying timbres, it moves into a gradually rising, undulating series of contrapuntal streams in the marimbas and vibraphone, which reach a climax and then dissolve into the coloristic material of the opening. The third movement features a driving ostinato, which gradually grows in complexity as the movement progresses. Against this, solo lines develop and combine. This all increases in intensity and accelerates in a drive toward the conclusion, when suddenly it is interrupted by the coloristic material of the second movement, after which there isa pell-mell rush to the final cadence.

Instrumentation:

Player 1 - Timpani (with cymbal), small snare drum, wind chimes, woodblock, tambourine, bass drum, flexatone, large gong, xylophone, medium cymbal.

Player 2 - Timbales, bongos, small tom tom, medium snare drum, 4-octave marimba, temple blocks, woodblock, congas, cowbells, large cymbal

Player 3 - Deep tom-toms, medium snare drum, 4-octave marimba, bongos, crotales, castanets, medium cymbal.

Player 4 - Roto-toms, large snare drum, vibraphone (with two bass bows), guiro, small gong, large heavy cymbal, small cymbal.