Simple Objects For Orchestra
Brian Petuch 2012
About the Work Simple Objects for Orchestra was written during the fall of 2012 and is my second work for orchestra. The work features several very simple motifs that are developed and repeated throughout the work. The motifs are developed in very traditional ways (augmentations, transpositions, diminutions, etc.), but I have also taken the motifs and used them as textural color in addition to them functioning as a main melodic idea. My overall structural goal with the work was to maintain a high level of clarity with the motifs so the listener can hear how they are developed and how they interact with each other. The shapes of the two movements are mirror images of each other. The first movement starts out with string harmonics in a very high register, then the movement expands the register and dynamics, and then finally it returns to the string harmonics in the high register. This is contrasted in the second movement where the work starts out with pizzicato in the very low register of the strings, then the movement expands the register and dynamics, and finally it returns to the low register pizzicato in the strings. The names of the two movements, Like Evening Clouds in Slow Motion and Like Dancers in Unsteady Rhythm, are not meant as programmatic titles, but instead they are a visual analogy to describe the overall tone and style of the movements.
Brian Petuch 2012
Instrumentation
2 Flutes (2nd doubling Piccolo)
Percussion 1
2 Oboes
Vibraphone (motor off)
2 Clarinets in Bb
Bass Drum (shared)
2 Bassoons
Percussion 2 Glockenspiel
4 Horns in F
Tambourine (shared)
3 Trumpets in Bb
Marimba
2 Tenor Trombones
Triangle
Bass Trombone
Percussion 3
Tuba
Xylophone Tambourine (shared)
Piano Timpani
Violins I Violins II Violas Cellos Basses
Special Notation !
Pitches inside of the box should be played in free time and independent of the conductor for the length of the measure or the length of the extended dark line.
Ex. 1
Pitches are repeated through the extended dark line until the dotted vertical line
Ex. 2
Pitches are repeated for the duration of the measure
!
Performers are also given instructions on whether to play the pitches in order or to randomize the order of the pitches. The frequency of the pitches is up to the discretion of the performer, but generally the pitches should be spaced out more sparsely than performed rapidly.
Simple Objects
Transposed Score Duration 9 min.
Brian Petuch
for Orchestra 1. Like Evening Clouds in Slow Motion
Flute 1
pp
ppp
Violin II
Violoncello
ppp
Sustained and Organic q = 45
Violin I
Flute 2
Oboe 1
Sustained and Organic q = 45
pp
pp
pp
p
pp
p
p
p
p
Fl. 1
15
Fl. 2
Ob. 1
Ob. 2
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
A
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Vibraphone
Glockenspiel
3
mp
mp
mp
div.
mp
mp
mp
mp
p
mp
A 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 p mp
p
pp
mp
3
mp
3
pp
mf
pp
pp
3
3
mp
3
pp
p
gliss.
pp
p
p
Vc.
Vla.
Vln. II
3
Vln. I
mp
Tpt. 3
Tpt.1
Hn. 4
Hn. 3
pp
Hn. 2
pp
Hn. 1
A
mp
p
mp
mf
mp
4
rit.
Fl. 1 22
Fl. 2
Ob. 1
Ob. 2
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
mp
p
3
mp
3
pp
p
pp
pp
p
A tempo
p
pp
p
Hn. 1 Hn. 2
Hn. 3
Hn. 4
pp
pp
mp
pp Tpt.1
Tpt. 2
Tpt. 3
Tba.
liss.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Vln. I Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
pp
mp
pp
rit.
mp
pp
pizz.
mp
3
mp
ppp
p
pp
mp
p
pp
p
mp
ppp
gliss.
p
unis.
pp
mp
mp (roll quickly)
ppp
p
gliss.
unis.
pp
III
ppp
ppp
B
gliss.
p
arco
A tempo
ppp
l.v.
pp
B
(glock)
rit.
div.
Play pitches sparsely and randomize order
3
mp
mp
pizz.
arco
p
A tempo
p
pp
pp
mp
mp
pp
mp
pp
Play pitches freely and in order
(vibes)
Cb.
pp
pizz.
pp
Pno.
pp
p
pp
p
p
mp
g
p
mp
ppp
mp
p
p
p
gliss.
p Play pitches sparsely and in order
Bsn. 2
Play pitches sparsely and in order
Bsn. 1
p
pp
pp
pp
pp
B
p
gliss.
arco
p
5
Fl. 1 30
Fl. 2
Ob. 1
Ob. 2
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
mp
mp
mp
mp
mf
mf
mf
mp
mf
Play sparsely and randomize order
Bsn. 1
mp
Play sparsely and randomize order
Bsn. 2
Hn. 2 Hn. 3
Hn. 4
Tpt.1
Tpt. 2
Tpt. 3
mp
mf
mp
Tbn. 2
B. Tbn.
Tba.
Timp.
Perc. 1
Vla.
Cb.
mp
gliss. mp
gliss.
gliss.
gliss.
p
p
gliss.
div.
p
gliss.
mp
mp
mp
mf
mf
mp
gliss.
mf
mf
(vibes)
mf
gliss.
mf
mp
gliss.
gliss.
mf
mf
mf
mp
gliss.
mf
mf
gliss.
mp
Bass Drum
gliss.
mp
mf
mf
mf
mp
Vc.
Vln. II
mp
Perc. 3 Vln. I
mp
p
Tbn. 1
unis.
gliss.
mf
mf
mf
gliss.
6
Fl. 1
38
Fl. 2
Ob. 1
Ob. 2
Cl. 1
Hn. 2
Hn. 3
Tpt.1
Tpt. 2
Tpt. 3
B. Tbn.
Timp. Perc. 1
Perc. 2
p
gliss.
f
f
f
f
f
ff
ff
(bass drum)
f
div. mf
div.
mf
ff
ff
ff Randomize order
mp
mp
f
f f
gliss.
f div.
g liss.
f
f
gliss.
f
unis.
ff
ff
ff
ff
ff
mp Play freely and in order
A tempo
p
p
gliss.
gliss.
C
mp
ff
mp
mp
rit.
Randomize order
ff
gliss.
l.v.
p
p
delicate
A tempo sul tasto
delicate sul tasto
delicate sul tasto
mp delicate
C
rit.
delicate
f
delicate
ff
p
f
p delicate
(glock)
p delicate
p
ff
ff
p
A tempo
ff
mp
ff
Play freely and in order
ff
f
ff
ff
mp
f
ff
f
f
mf
ff
ff
rit.
Play freely and in order
Vc.
f
Vla.
mp
f
Vln. II
mp
mp
Cb.
p
Vln. I
p
Perc. 3
Pno.
p
f
ff
mp
Play less sparsely than before and randomize order
Play less sparsely than before and randomize order
(vibes)
f
p
Tbn. 2
p
mf
gliss.
f
f
gliss.
f
f
gliss.
Tbn. 1
Tba.
Hn. 4
Hn. 1
Bsn. 1
Bsn. 2
Cl. 2
C
p
p
p
delicate
47
Fl. 1
Ob. 1
Ob. 2
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
Bsn. 1
Hn. 1
Fl. 2
Bsn. 2
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
pp
p
pp
p
(mute out)
mute
p
delicate
p delicate
p
p delicate
(mute out)
mp
ppp
p
mp
mp
ppp
ppp
mp
p
mp
p
p
mp
(vibes)
p delicate
(glock)
D
l.v.
l.v.
ppp
gliss.
gliss.
pp
gliss.
gliss.
pp
gliss.
gliss.
pp
p
delicate
p delicate
unis. ord.
pp
p unis. ord.
delicate
D
mp
p
p
pp
7
p
delicate
p
mute
mp
delicate
p
Vln. I
Cb.
Vc.
D
Vla.
Vln. II
Pno.
delicate Hn. 3
mp
8
Fl. 1 59
Fl. 2
Ob. 1
Ob. 2
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
ppp
ppp
ppp
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
Cb.
(vibes)
p
p
p
pp
pp
ppp
pp
ppp
pp
ppp
pp
p
p
p
ppp
Perc. 1
p
p ord.
p
pp
pp
pp
pp
ppp
ppp
ppp
ppp
nothing
nothing
nothing
nothing
2. Like Dancers in Unsteady Rhythm 9
Piccolo
Buoyant q = 108
Flute 1
Oboe 1
Oboe 2
Clarinet in Bb 1
Clarinet in Bb 2
Bassoon 1 2
(Flute 2)
mf
Horn in F 2 4
Trumpet in Bb 1
Trombone 1 2
Bass Trombone
Timpani
Buoyant q = 108
p
Percussion 1
Percussion 3
Piano
mf
3
mp
mp
p
mp
Buoyant q = 108
mp
mp
mp
mp
mp
p
Bass Drum
mp
To Vibes
mp
Viola
mp
mp
2.
3
f
pizz.
f3
f3
mp
fp
Xylophone
f3
Violin II
3
Contrabass
mf
Violin I
Violoncello
mp mp mp
f
mp
Percussion 2
3
Trumpet in Bb 2 3
Tuba
mf
Horn in F 1 3
3
mp
p
mf
mp
f
Tambourine
f
gliss.
f
To Mar.
f
f3
f
pp f
Vibraphone
f
mp
pizz.
pp
f
10
10
Picc.
Fl. 1
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
Hn. 1 3
pp
mp
mp
mp
mf
mf
mf
3.
mp
mp
(vibes)
mp
3.
mp
(xyl.)
mp
Vln. I
mp
p
mp
mp
mp
arco
mp
arco
p
mp
To Vib.
mf
To Marimba
mf
Tambourine
mf
pizz.
Bass Drum
To Bass Drum
mp
To Tambourine
Marimba
mf
mp
mp
pp
Vc.
mp
2.
Vla.
mp
mp
mp
pp
Vln. II
mp
mp
expressive
mf
mp
Cb.
Perc. 2
Pno.
Perc. 1
Perc. 3
Tpt. 2 3
Timp.
pp
Tpt.1
B. Tbn.
Ob. 2
mp
Ob. 1
Bsn. 1 2
mf
mf
11
Picc. 18
p
Fl. 1
mf
Cl. 2
Hn. 1 3
Perc. 1
mp
mf
3
mp
mf
Vibraphone
Vln. I
Vla.
Vc.
mf
mp
pizz.
mf
To Triangle
mp
mf
mp
mp
mf
f
f
f
To Bass Drum
mp
mp
mf
mf
mp
a2
mp
(xyl.)
mp
mf
mp
2.
mp
3
4.
mf
Vln. II
Perc. 2
Pno.
Marimba
Perc. 3
mf
B. Tbn.
Tbn. 1 2
Tpt. 2 3
mf
Tpt.1
mf
Hn. 2 4
mp
Cl. 1
Ob. 2
p
Ob. 1
arco
mf
mp
mp
12 24 A Picc.
Fl. 1
Ob. 1
Ob. 2
Cl. 1
f
f
Hn. 2 4
Tpt.1
B. Tbn.
Tba.
f
f
Perc. 3
(xyl.)
f
f
f
f
f
mp
ff
A Vln. I
p
f
f
arco
f
f
mf
mf
mf
mp
To Tambourine
3
f
f
mf
f
f
f Cb.
f 3
f
unis.
f
Vc.
Bass Drum
f
f
f
Vla.
f
mf
f
mf
f
f
Triangle
Vln. II
mf
A Timp.
Pno.
Perc. 2
Perc. 1
f
f
Tbn. 1 2
f
f
Tpt. 2 3
Bsn. 1 2 mp f Hn. 1 3
f
f
f
f
f
Cl. 2
p
div.
p
gliss.
mf
mf
Picc. 29
Fl. 1
p
ff
mf
p
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
Bsn. 1 2
Hn. 1 3
p
p
Hn. 2 4
Tpt.1
p
Tpt. 2 3
p
Timp.
f
f
mp
ff
Perc. 1
B. Tbn.
Tba.
Tbn. 1 2
Tambourine
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Pno.
(xyl.)
p
Vla.
mp
Cb.
mf
ff
ff
ff ff ff
mf
ff
Triangle f
To Tamb.
3
f
f
mp
f
f
mf
ff
ff
ff
f
ff
f
p
f
f
unis.
mf
ff
ff
ff
ff
ff
ff
mf
ff
mp
ff
mp
f
f
mf
p
mf
f
mp f
mp
ff
f
ff
mp
To Triangle
ff
mp
ff
f
ff
ff
ff
ff
ff
mp
f
mp
mf
ff
ff
mf
mp
ff
ff
mf
f
ff
ff
ff
mf
ff
ff
p
Vc.
(b.d.)
mf
ff ff
Vln. II
Vln. I
ff
ff
ff
mf
Ob. 2
3
Ob. 1
13
f
14
Picc. 34
Fl. 1
f
f
Cl. 2
mp
f
mp
Cl. 1
mp
f
Ob. 2
f
Ob. 1
mp
mp
mp
mp
p
p
p
p
Bsn. 1 2
Hn. 1 3
Tpt.1
f
Tbn. 1 2
B. Tbn.
Perc. 1
mf
Tambourine To Xyl.
mp
mf
mf
To Vib.
Perc. 2
mp
Pno.
ppp
To Mar.
Vln. I
p pp
p
mp
ppp
mp
f
Xylophone
mf
p
ppp
p
Vln. II
f
Vla.
Vc.
Marimba
mf
(triangle)
pp
f
Perc. 3
mf
mp
f
Tba.
Tpt. 2 3
pp
Hn. 2 4
pp
mf
mf
mf
p
p
ppp
p
pizz.
mp
15 39 B Cl. 1 mp
Cl. 2
mp
mp 1. Bsn. 1 2 mp Tba.
pp
B
Perc. 1
Vibraphone
pp
mp
mp
pp
pp
mp
(mar.)
Perc. 2
mp
Pno.
pp
Vla.
B Vln. I
mp
p
pp
pp
ppp
mp
arco Detaché
Detaché
mp
mp
16
Fl. 1 45
3
3
mp
Ob. 1
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
Bsn. 1 2 Hn. 1 3
Hn. 2 4
mp
senza sord. mp con sord.
Tbn. 1 2
B. Tbn.
Tba.
Tpt. 2 3
Timp.
mf
mf
mf
mf
mf
mp
mf
Tpt.1
2.
mf
f
f
f
mf
(vibes) Perc. 1 mp pp mf p mf p (mar.)
Perc. 2
Pno.
mp
pp
Cb.
mp
mp
3
mf
Vc.
mp
ppp
Vln. I
Vla.
3
p
Vln. II
Detaché
mp
mf
17
51 Picc.
3
mp
Fl. 1
Ob. 1
Ob. 2
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
Bsn. 1 2
mf
cresc.
Tpt.1
Tba.
Perc. 1
3
Cb.
ff
ff
ff
ff
ff
cresc.
f
ff
unis.
ff
unis. ff
ff
ff
C
To Triangle
f
Vc.
mf
Vla.
mf
To Bass Drum
Vln. II
Perc. 2
Vln. I
(mar.)
Pno.
ff
B. Tbn.
3
mf
Tbn. 1 2
1. mp
Hn. 2 4
3
C
mf
Hn. 1 3
div.
cresc.
cresc.
unis.
ff
ff
ff
ff
ff
C
div.
ff
cresc.
cresc.
ff
ff
ff
18
Picc. 56
Fl. 1
Ob. 2
Cl. 1
Ob. 1
Hn. 2 4
Tpt.1
Tpt. 2 3
B. Tbn.
Timp.
Tbn. 1 2
Tba.
Perc. 3
ff
Pno.
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
Cb.
ff
f
fff
Bass Drum
div.
unis.
fff
ff
unis.
ff
(xyl.)
Triangle Perc. 2
Perc. 1
ff
Bsn. 1 2 Hn. 1 3
Cl. 2
61
Picc.
Fl. 1
Ob. 1
Ob. 2
Hn. 1 3
Tbn. 1 2
B. Tbn.
fff
mf
ff
mf
ff
fff
fff
mf
fff
mf
fff
mf
fff
mf
fff
mf
ff
mf
ff
mf
ff
mf
ff
fff
mf
fff
f
ff
fff
fff
f
fff
f
fff
fff
fff
fff
(b.d.)
fff
mf
f
mf
fff
mf
fff
mf
fff
fff
ff
mf
ff
mf
ff
unis. fff
ff
ff
mf
fff
fff
fff
fff
fff
mf
fff
mf
19
Vln. I
fff
ff
fff mf fff mf ff
Vln. II
fff mf fff mf ff fff
Vla.
Vc.
Cb.
Perc. 1
Pno.
fff
fff
Tpt. 2 3
fff
Tpt.1
Timp.
Hn. 2 4
Tba.
Cl. 2
Bsn. 1 2
Cl. 1
ff
fff
ff
20
Picc. 66
Fl. 1
Ob. 1
Ob. 2
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
Bsn. 1 2
Hn. 1 3
D
p
p
mf
Tpt.1
Tpt. 2 3
Tbn. 1 2
B. Tbn.
Tba.
p
p
p
mf
pp
Pno.
Vln. I
Vln. II
Vla.
Vc.
Cb.
mp
f
mp
f
mp
f
mp
mp
f
f
mp
mp
mf
port. por t.
f
mf
D
mf
mf
p
mp
mp
port.
f
f
port.
port.
mp
mp
(Marimba)
f
mp
f
f
mp
mp
f
mp
f
mp
mp
mp
mf
po rt.
mf
mf
mf
mf
f
p
f
D
p
mf
(b.d.)
f
mf
f
p
p ort.
f
port.
p
mp
mf
mf
mf
Perc. 1
f
p
f
mf
mf
mf
p
Timp.
Perc. 2
pp Hn. 2 4
71 Picc.
mp
Fl. 1
Ob. 1
Ob. 2
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
mp
p
mp
pp
ppp
mp
B. Tbn.
f
mf
mf
f
f
f
a2
f
f
f
f
gliss.
mp
p
mp
pp
mp
f
f
f
(b.d.)
mf
pp
pp
gliss.
gliss.
To Vib.
f
f
f
f
pizz.
f
f
f
pp
gliss.
unis.
Vln. I
Vc.
f
(mar.)
Vla.
f
f
Perc. 2
Vln. II
21
Perc. 1
Pno.
mp
ppp
Tbn. 1 2
mp
Hn. 1 3
Tpt. 2 3
f
f
f
Tpt.1
p
Bsn. 1 2
Hn. 2 4
22
Picc.
E
76
Fl. 1
Ob. 1
Ob. 2
Cl. 1
Cl. 2
f
f
f
f
Hn. 1 3
Hn. 2 4
Tpt. 2 3
Tbn. 1 2
B. Tbn.
Tba.
pp
mf
Vc.
Cb.
mp
ppp
f
f
E
f
f
pp
expressive
mp p
p
pp
ppp
mp
p
mp
ppp
dim.
ppp
dim.
E f 3
f 3 arco
f
pizz.
f
pp
ppp
f
3
Vln. I
Vla.
ppp
f
Vln. II
(mar.)
mp
f
Perc. 2
f
f
ppp
pp
f
pp
Timp.
Pno.
pp
f
mf
Tpt.1
pp
pp
f Bsn. 1 2
f
ppp
mp
mf
mp
81
Picc.
Ob. 2
Cl. 1
Timp.
Perc. 1
Pno.
Ob. 1
Bsn. 1 2
mp
Vibraphone
Vc.
Cb.
pp
p
p
3
pp
p
p
3
p
pp
p
23
pizz.
mp
p
l.v.