Endless Engines

Description

Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin 3, Viola, Cello, Double Bass — Our world is driven forward by the roar and strength of engines! The driving eighth notes throughout this piece represents the power and intricate workings of these machines. Does this engine belong to a train being pursued by bandits? Is it the heart of a car racing towards a checkered flag? Or a Jet engine tearing across the sky? This is the soundtrack to your Endless Engine!This piece was part of Dión's 2023 Free Commission Project. The goal of this project was to provide school orchestra programs with a composition that met the needs of each program as well as the opportunity to work with a professional composer. With input from each program's director, Dión created these custom pieces to fit into each orchestra's curriculum. Endless Engines was written for the Perry Meridian Middle School Orchestra program from Indianapolis, IN under the direction of Alexander Buff and Ariya Marr. The directors wanted an exciting piece to give to their developing orchestras an opportunity to reinforce note reading first position while including some modern techniques and effects.  .  Performance Notes:Col legno battuto is the act of striking the stick of the bow on the string to create a pitched click or clanking sound. When performing this technique I recommend flipping the bow completely over and using the upper-middle portion of the stick to strike the string. Practice this technique using open strings first to learn how the bow bounces. Additionally, the ability to establish a proper bow hold quickly will be needed to switch back and forth between arco and col legno throughout the piece. Snap pizzicato is also known as Bartok pizz. Notes with this symbol above them should be played by lifting the string vertically when plucked, causing the string to hit the fingerboard thus creating a percussive effect in addition to the pitch. Some players prefer to perform this technique by grabbing the string between the thumb and index finger and pulling up. Our world is driven forward by the roar and strength of engines! The driving eighth notes throughout this piece represents the power and intricate workings of these machines. Each instrumental section sparks and pops with snap pizzicato, col legno, and other rhythmic effects. As pieces of rhythmic figures come together, a melody with a motor emerges. Experience electric energy as mechanical music churns, interlocks, and builds to an explosive conclusion.

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