header nedmcgowan.com
"Ned McGowan shows himself from an animated, versatile side, both compositional and performing"

 - Opduvel

Cycle Games 1

(2019)


Percussion Ensemble

two groups - vocal percussion

or

Duet

2 players - vocal percussion

 
Duration: 7'


Cycle Games 1 brings together two of my strongest beliefs in music: 1. rhythm is one of the most expressive musical elements, and 2. the human voice is the most effective instrument to explore the meaning of art. That is, to show the possibilities of human existence.

The piece is a composed vocal percussion duet where each part can be 1 or more performers. The interplay of the rhythmic groupings of 4 and 7 defines the music throughout, as rhythmic materials are contrapuntally iterated in versions of both groupings. The notated sounds leave space for some individual interpretation, as well as one section utilizing improvisation.

Cycle Games 1 is inspired by the Carnatic Konnakol art form, but the contrapuntal approach, treatment of timbre and theatricality are rooted in my language as a contemporary European composer.

Cycle Games 1 was commissioned by the Performing Arts Fund NL and written for Tatiana Koleva and the Youth Percussion Pool








Score available from Donemus Publishing