Music Finland Core

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Resonance Orbits takes its title from the recently discovered TRAPPIST-1 system, in which seven Earth-sized planets orbit within a very close distance of an ultracool red dwarf star, the system’s gravitational stability ensured by a resonance between the planets’ orbital periods that links them in a perpetual ratio of approximately 2:3:4:6:9:15:24, without which they would collide. I first read about this factoid, realizing that this wonderfully musical dance fit neatly into a bar of 6/4 time, a few days before I was asked to write a piece for the ultracool Crash Ensemble. It was a coincidence (not to mention a pun) too good to ignore.This pulse ratio isn’t constantly audible throughout the piece, which would probably sound kind of annoying. In fact, the entire complex is heard only once, quite briefly as a climactic gesture. Rather, the resonance pattern forms a pulse grid underlying the music, governing rhythmic durations, as well as entry and exit points for the players. Not all successive pulses within a layer are necessarily articulated, and they’re frequently grouped into larger beats. Set groups of players are given short, unvarying figures in each section as the view zooms around the system like a space probe, seeing it from constantly changing perspectives. An orbit will frequently be occupied by several instruments at once, but in general the players stay in their own circuit until the view changes, only rarely jumping between them.While all this might make the piece sound rather rule-bound and process-oriented, the grid was simply a way of limiting rhythmic choices for myself – as well as creating some absorbing polyrhythmic grooves – while playing freely with layers of repeated notes, harmonies and instrumental colors. In fact, though rooted in science, I wanted the music to feel quite human and intuitive in its unfolding. It even takes on a gently elegiac tone toward the end, in a memorial to my friend and colleague, Jovanka Trbojević, whose music and musicianship continue to inspire me, and who shares the dedication with the ensemble. She would have loved the idea of this planetary system, and I like to think that she may in fact be there right now. It’s just too cool.

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Abbreviation	Instrument
Woodwind
acl	alto clarinet
afl	alto flute
arec	alto recorder
asax	alto saxophone
barsax	baritone saxophone
barhn	baritone horn
bcl	bass clarinet
bfl	bass flute
bob	bass oboe
bsax	bass saxophone
bsn	bassoon
cbsn	contrabassoon
cl	clarinet
ehn	English horn
fl	flute
hn	French horn
ob	oboe
pic	piccolo
rec	recorder
sax	saxophone
srec	soprano recorder
ssax	soprano saxophone
trec	tenor recorder
tsax	tenor saxophone
Brass
ahn	alto horn
atrb	altotrombone
barhn	baritone horn
btrb	bass trombone
cornet	cornet
euph	euphonium
fhn	flugelhorn
hn	French horn
tba	tuuba
thn	tenor horn
trb	trombone
trp	trumpet
Percussion
dr	drums
glock	glockenspiel
mar	marimba
perc	percussion
timp	timpani
vibr	vibraphone
xyl	xylophone
Strings
db	double bass
gamba	viola da gamba
str	strings
vla	viola
vlc	cello
vln	violin
Other
acc	accordion
cel	celesta
cemb	harpsichord
chords	chords
elbas	electric bass
elg	electric guitar
elorg	electric organ
elpno	electric piano
guit	guitar
harm	harmonium
hca	harmonica
hp	harp
instr	instrument
kantele	kantele
keyb	keyboard
live electr	live electronics
mand	mandolin
mel	melody
org	organ
pno	piano
synth	synthesizer
tape	tape
Vocal
alto	alto
baryt	baritone
basso	bass voice
ch	choir
chc	childrens choir
chf	female choir
chm	male choir
chx	mixed choir
cten	countertenor
mezzo	mezzo-soprano
sopr	soprano
speaker	speaker
ten	tenor
voc	vocal

Symphony orchestra
2222 4331 11 1, str = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, one other percussionist, harp and strings
Wind band
2252 3 423 21212 3 = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 5 clarinets, 2 bassoons - 3 saxophones - 4 French horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones - 2 cornets, alto horn, 2 tenor horns, baritone horn, 2 tubas - 3 percussionists
Big band
221 4 4, pno, guit, db, dr = 2 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, baritone saxophone, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, guitar, double bass, drums
Additional codes
+	fl+pic = flutist doubles on piccolo
/	pno/org = can be played on either piano or organ
lib	ad libitum
obl	obligato
str	str: 65432 = specified number of string players
str min	str min: 65432 = at least 65432
str max	str max: 65432 = not more than 65432
solo	vln solo = violin is the solo instrument in a work not obviously for solo violin