Devil's Dust
(2006)
String Quartet
Instrumentation:
2 violins
viola
cello
Devil’s Dust is a rapid collection of contrasting musical fragments. There are melodies, arrangements, parodies, style copies, quotes, and new creations, mostly without transition. One thing I have always been fascinated with in music is the relationship between speed, the musical material and perception. Works that stay the freshest for me create a listening sensation of sitting on the edge of your seat to keep up with the flow of ideas: for example Carceri d’Inventione IIb by Ferneyhough, Orchid Spangiafora’s Flee Past’s Ape Elf, or the cartoon scores of Carl Stalling. I have tried to capture that experience with Devil’s Dust in a playful way. Particularly fun was researching the various expressive string techniques: including screams, scratches, squeals, scrapes, screeches, shrieks, and lots of crunches.
– Ned McGowan
Sections:
Scream – Chaos box I – Dust Devil I – Chaos box II – Wire Mesh – Dust Devil II – Mad Waltz – Zorn – Squeaky Machine I – Solos – Squeaky Machine II – Pneumatic Screed – Scrapes, Trills and Rhythm – Mad Waltz II – I Dream of Jeanie – Dust Devil III – Screech – picture – Mysterious – Slow Tightrope – Medium Salsa – Rock Blues – Black Keys Song – Popeye - Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes – Crunched – Cadenza – Angel Eyes – Monkey See, Monkey Don't – Spy Program – Mukthay – Chant – The Contest – The Rut – Ultra Crunch – Chaos Box III – Merengue – What Is It? – Finale – Jet Failure
Written for Zephyr String Quartet
Commissioned by the Fonds voor de Scheppende Toonkunst, Netherlands
First performance: Philharmonie, Haarlem, February 16th, 2006