Beat Routes
by Juhani Nuorvala
(3.75 to the Floor)
Description
I once calculated that I heard more than two million synthetic bass drum beats in 1997 alone. (And that does not include my home listening.) I have been only too pleased to let such musical experiences influence my compositions. In my music, a regular 4/4 thud or "four to the floor") does, however, occasionally give way to a twitching gait.
Beat Routes is electro-acoustic percussion music. The soloist's instrument, electric drums, is an entity made up of pads and synthesizers. The others play conventional instruments but the sound is processed electronically. The ensemble navigates various beat routes, some of them winding but all tarmacked.
© Juhani Nuorvala, 1/2000 (Tampere Biennale 2000)
Translation © Susan Sinisalo
Laskeskelin kerran, että kuulin yksistään vuonna 1997 yli kaksi miljoonaa synteettistä bassorummun iskua. (Tässä ei ole kotikuuntelua otettu mukaan.) Olen ilomielin antanut tällaisten musiikkikokemusten vaikuttaa omiin sävellyksiini. Minun musiikissani säännöllinen 4/4-paukutus eli "four to the floor" tekee kuitenkin toisinaan tilaa nytkyvälle käynnille.
Beat Routes on elektroakustista lyömäsoitinmusiikkia. Solistin instrumentti, sähkörummut, on lyöntipadien ja syntetisaattoreiden muodostama kokonaisuus. Muilla soittajilla on perinteiset instrumentit, joiden ääntä muokataan sähköisesti. Yhtye suunnistaa kappaleessa halki rytmireittien, joista jotkut ovat mutkaisia mutta kaikki asfalttipäällysteisiä.
© Juhani Nuorvala, 1/2000
Instrumentation 4perc [midi drums (Yamaha DTX (1 player), timpani and 2perc amplified, electronics/effect processors (2 players)]
Instrument codes
| 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 |
Coding for instrument ensembles and orchestras
| 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 |
Category Chamber Works, Electro-acoustic Works
Prizes Nomination for the Nordic Council Music Prize 2006
Premiere
Tuomo Lassila, midi drums, Janne Tuomi, Mikael Heikkilä, Teijo Suomi, percussion, Juhani Liimatainen and Juhani Nuorvala, live-electronics, Tampere Biennale, Tampere, Finland, 12 April 2000.
Commisioned by / dedications Commissioned by the Tampere Biennale
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Archive number MF15318
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