- Taming the Beast (1985)
-
Anna Rubin
for solo percussion and fixed media
Taming the Beast (1985) is a work for solo percussionist and fixed media. The percussionist is surrounded by a battery of metallic instruments ranging from the triangle to large gongs and tam-tams. In the course of the piece, the percussionist emerges from this ‘cage’ and ends playing the magical ‘stroke rods,’ long aluminum rods which are stroked to produce high ringing tones. The work in is in 3 large sections the first of which features Buddhist chant in the fixed media portion which has been modified and altered electronically. Metallic sounds dominate the middle section while a wide-spectrum synthesized rainbow of sound dominates the ending. The soloist has semi-improvisational sections throughout the work along with strickly somposed sections. The piece has been featured in concerts in the U.S., the Netherlands and Belgium with performers including Jim Pugliese, Jeff Kershner, Paul Koek and Max Van Der Beek.
- Stolen Gold (1991/rev.2007)
-
Anna Rubin
versions for violin, modern oboe, baroque oboe and fixed media
ca. 5'30"
Stolen Gold (1991/rev. 2007) is a work in three versions featuring fixed media along with amplified baroque oboe, modern oboe and violin. In each case, the live instrumental was refashioned to suit the performer and the instrument. The original version for baroque oboe was done in collaboration with Deborah Nagy. Her virtuosity with the keyless instrument allowed me to compose long glissandi which are extremely difficult on the modern keyed instrument. Modern oboist Patricia Moorhead asked for a version for modern oboe and violinist Airi Yoshioka later asked for a version for violin. In all cases, the live instrument is amplified. The fixed media was composed while I was in residence at the Brooklyn College Center for Computer Music using the CSound synthesis program. Clouds of pointillistic sound contrast with drone and glissandi, acting as a counterpart to a highly decorated melodic part in the solo instrument. The piece has been performed throughout the US by a variety of performers.
The version for violin has been recorded by Airi Yoshioka on the Albany label (Troy 1305). Click here to view the recording. (YouTube)