Lois V Vierk

for four accordions

ca. 20'00"

Many of my works from the 1980's are for ensembles of like-instruments – 8 cellos, 18 trombones, 8 violins, 8 ryuteki flutes, etc., and this work for 4 accordions. In these pieces two or more of the instruments act together, forming a "sound shape". The beginning of this work consists of relatively simple sound shapes of trills and tremolos. The piece unfolds slowly. It utilizes principles which I call "exponential structure" in which rates of change of musical materials are constantly increasing by an exponential factor. Gradually these materials develop into more complex and dynamic scales, repeated chords and clusters, accents and dynamic patterns. Over a 20-minute time span Manhattan Cascade is transformed from a gentle flow of sound to its cascading conclusion, crashing like a giant waterfall.

This piece was commissioned by Guy Klucevsek.

Vierk: Manhattan Cascade, for 4 piano­‐accordions      

Recording is by Guy Klucevsek, accordion      

from CD: New World Records NWCR626 "Manhattan Cascade"

The composer has approved this work for performance by a soloist with a recorded track for the other parts. Click here to download materials needed for that version.

Click here to view the CD on New World Records. 

Click here to view the score and listen to the recording.