Channels for mixed ensemble
Matthew C. Saunders (2018)
Channels (2018) Channels was composed for the Blue Streak Ensemble in recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of the June 22, 1969 fire on the Cuyahoga River. The 1969 fire was relatively small compared to previous fires, but national media coverage acted as a spur to the broader environmental movement by leading to greater awareness of the damage that industry and urbanization were wreaking on the nation’s waterways. The shipping channel of the Cuyahoga River is six miles of twisting, curving water that, over two centuries, has been reshaped to fit the needs of human and industrial development. The 1969 fire occurred near the head of this channel, and after a brief allusion to the river in its natural state, and a shorter depiction of the fire itself, the music in Channels shifts and changes to reflect the various industries along the Cuyahoga in 1969: steel, oil, chemicals, paint, gypsum, transportation. Similarly, shifts in awareness and identity--akin to changing channels on a television set--have centered on the river and the neighborhoods and industries surrounding it, all still stacked up on the industrial flats today for the viewing, a monument to the Anthropocene period. Dr. Matthew C. Saunders has taught music from kindergarten to college in styles from madrigal to mariachi, and strives to make beautiful music for and with captivating people. He has climbed mountains, saved someone’s life, and watched the moon rise over the prairie. He has loved, lost, and loved again; helped friends find salvation, and found it for himself as well; taught genius students, and learned from genius teachers. His dreams are to walk on Mars, hear a grand piano fall into an orchestra pit, make more people laugh than cry, and love his wife Becky passionately and forever. He plays trombone and is always getting better at playing piano, and in the course of a long, love-filled, productive life, he wants to compose the Great American Symphony, ride the rails, hike the trails, read all of the good books, finally watch The Godfather, and storm the castles in the air. He will never write unlistenable music, stop stargazing or lose money in Vegas. He doesn’t call his mother often enough, but he still tries to do a good turn daily. He is always up for a few hands of euchre or a good game of chess, likely winning the former and losing the latter. Dr. Saunders is Professor of Music and music department chair at Lakeland Community College, where he directs the Lakeland Civic Orchestra. He is on the web at www.martiandances.com, but the physical Dr. Saunders lives in Willowick, Ohio with his wife Becky and their children Noah and Melia. Instrumentation: Flute (doubling Alto Flute) Clarinet in Bb (doubling Bass Clarinet) Percussion (1 player): Triangle, Sizzle Cymbal, 2 Tom-toms, Glockenspiel, Vibraphone Violin Violoncello Piano Contact Information: Matthew C. Saunders 257 East 286th Street Willowick, Ohio 44095 (580) 461-1617—matthew@martiandances.com www.martiandances.com
for Blue Streak Ensemble
Channels Flute Alto Flute Clarinet in Bb Bass Clarinet in Bb Triangle Sizzle Cymbal 2 Tom-toms
Vibraphone Glockenspiel
Violin
Violoncello
Some river! Freely (q=ca.63)
Bass Clarinet
p
f
Piano
B. Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
mp
p
mf
mf
p
mf
Some river! Freely (q=ca.63)
f
9 Burning (q=152) (Flute)
7
Fl.
Vibraphone: motor on (slow), yarn mallets
MATTHEW C. SAUNDERS (2018)
f
p
p
(Bass Clarinet)
p
f
mf
mf
snare drum stick
sim.
f
f
ff
p
molto vibrato
sub.p
mf
mf
f
pizz.
p
mp
mf
f
f
9 Burning (q=152)
www.martiandances.com Copyright © 2018
Channels /M. Saunders 2 Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
14
Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
mp
f
f
p
mp
mf
ff
f
f
mf
mp
mp
p
mp
mf
ff
rall.
ff
mf
ff
ff
arco
ff
ff
rall. Pno.
f
mf
mp
p
mp
mp
f
mp
20
mp
Channels /M. Saunders
26
Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
mf
mf
Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
vibe mallet
29 Steely (q=72)
mf
p
To Glock. mf
molto accel.
f
p
mp
p
p
mp
Glockenspiel
p
sub. mf
p
mp
Steely (q=72)
29
3
p
3
33
p
mf
p
Pno.
mp
molto accel.
3
Channels /M. Saunders 4 Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
38
B. Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
f
To Vib.
sul tasto
mf
f
f
f with vibe mallet
ordinario
mp
arco
44 Heating Up (q=136)
f
pp
44 Heating Up (q=136) f
ordinario
mp
sul tasto
pp
mf
mp
43
Fl.
Pno.
f
arco
f
Channels /M. Saunders
49
Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
f
55
f
arco
mp To Cl.
mf
mp
mp
mp
5
mp
mp
arco
f
mp
pizz.
pizz.
f
sub. f
f
sub. f
Pno.
f
Pno.
arco
mf
sfz
arco
sfz
mf
Channels /M. Saunders 6 Fl.
60
mf
Clarinet in Bb
Cl.
Perc. Glock.
Vln.
mf
Vc.
f
Pno.
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
p
p
pp
p
p
mf
pizz.
arco
f
ff
ff
pizz.
f
mp
68 Forging ahead (q=116) ff
mp
68
f
f Vibraphone
ahead (q=116) Forging mp ff ff mp
accel.
Pno.
mp
sfz
arco
accel.
66
pizz.
mp
f
f
f
mp
mp
Fl.
Cl.
Perc. Vib.
Vln.
70
ff
ff
Vc.
Pno.
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
ff
ff
ff
mp
sfzp
ff
ff
mf
sfzp
ff
ff
ff
f
ff
f
ff
mf
ff
3
f
p
sfzp
ff
mp
sfzp
3
mp
p 3
f
3
3
3
ff
3
p
ff
p
3
ff
f
7 f
mf
f
mp
ff
mp
ff
ff
Pno.
mp
ff
74
mp
ff
Channels /M. Saunders
Channels /M. Saunders 8
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
f
3
ff
f
p
3
3
3
f
p
f
3
f
3
f
3
3
3
f
rit.
fp
3
p
f
fp
3
f
p
3
f
p
p 3
f
3
p
3
3
f
3
3
p
3
p
mf ff f
p
f
ff
3
p
3
ff
Pno.
f
f
ff
81
ff
Pno.
ff
77
mf
mf
rit.
Channels /M. Saunders
88
To A. Fl.
85
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
mp
p
p
pp
mp
mp
p
88 Oozing (q.=63)
pp
Vln.
p
mf
sul ponticello
p
Alto Flute
(sul ponticello)
pp
pp
9
91
Pno.
Vib.
Vc.
Oozing (q.=63)
mp
mf
pp
mp
Channels /M. Saunders 10 A. Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
96
A. Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
p
mp
pp
mf
sul tasto
mf
pp
p
100
mf
f
f
(sul D)
mp
Pno.
pp
pp
Vln.
Channels /M. Saunders
103
A. Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
11 104
p
Pno.
A. Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
mf
mp
mf
to ordinario gradually
fp
f
f
f
ordinario
f
ordinario
f
mf
To Fl.
arco, sul ponticello
mp
mp
mp
pizz.
(sul tasto) sul A, D
sub.mp
104
pp
p
mp
mp
mf
mp
107
mf
mp
arco, ordinario
Vc.
mp
f
Channels /M. Saunders 12 A. Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
111
Pno.
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
p
ff
ff
mp
mp
p
mp
mp
mp
f
mf
113
mf
sub. f
mf
mf
ff
ff
sub. f
sub. f
A tempo (q. =63)
f
Pno.
f
ff
115
113 Flute A tempo (q. =63)
mp
mp
p
p
mp
mp
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Channels /M. Saunders
118
f
Pno.
sub. f
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
sub. f
121
ff
ff
f
mp
ff
mf
mf
p
13
mp
p
mp
ff
mp
p
f
ff
ff
Pno.
f
ff
sub. f
Vc.
Channels /M. Saunders 14 Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
124
Pno.
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
pp
pp
pp
pp
pp
sul tasto
subtone
rit.
126 e=e (q=72)
Freely, slower
Pno.
129
126 e=e (q=72)
rit.
subtone
pp
p
p
pp una corda
subtone
subtone
pp
A tempo (q=72)
pp
pp
p
Freely, slower
p
pp
sul tasto
pp
A tempo (q=72)
pp (una corda)
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
136
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
p
p
pp
To Glock.
p
ordinario sul A
p
149
mp
pp
pp
149
p
3
5
pp
brushes
f
15
f
Pno.
140 A tempo (q=72)
pp
(una corda)
mp
mf
p
ordinario
Freely, slower
p
144
pp
140 A tempo (q=72)
Freely, slower
Pno.
Channels /M. Saunders
p
p
16 Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
151
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
3
p
pp
p
p (una corda)
p
brushes mf
pp
p
mp
mp
3
mp
p
mp
mf
mf
mf
mf
mf
mp
mf
p
mf
p
pp
3 3
pp
6
mf
mf
156
pp
Pno.
Fl.
Channels /M. Saunders
mf
mf
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
159
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
17
p
3
mp
mp
p
pp
pp
164
164 Colorful (q=104)
Glockenspiel plastic mallets
164 Colorful (q=104)
mf
Pno.
Channels /M. Saunders
mp
tre corde
3
sfz p
f
vibrato come possibile
p
f 3
sfzp
f
3
sfzp
Channels /M. Saunders 18 Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
169
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
mp
p
mp
f
173
f
3
3
3
p
f 3
f
3
3
p
3
f
3
3
mf
3
Pno.
f
ff
3
3
f
3
f
3
3
Channels /M. Saunders
176
19
176
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
3
3
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
178
3
3
f
3
3
sub. mp
3
3
3
3
3
3
mp
mp
f
3
Pno.
mp
176
mp
Pno.
3
3
3
3
f
sfz
3
sfz
3
p
3
3
3
f
3
3
3
Channels /M. Saunders 20 Fl.
180
3
f
Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
3
Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
3
mf
3
sfz
3
p
3
3
3
fsfz
182
3
3
ff
3
3
3
sfz
To Vib.
mf
p
3
3
3
3
f 3
3
3
3
sfz
3
3
3
3
sfz
3
poco accel.
p
p
3 mf
3
3
3
ff
3
3
ff
3
Pno.
mf
f
sfz
Fl.
3
f
mf
3
mf
3
mf
3
poco accel.
3
p
3
3
3
Channels /M. Saunders
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
185
3
3
3
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
ff
3
sfz
3
3
sub. p
3
3
sub. p
sfz
ff
3
3
sub. p
f
186 Red hot (q=116) 3 ff
mp
f
3
3
3
f
f
3
f
3
3
3 3 mf
3
3
3 3 ff
3
f
ff
ff
f
f
Pno.
3
sfz
3
3
sfz
188
3
3
3
Pno.
mf
ff vibe mallet
Vibraphone
3
3
sub. p
ff
ff
3
21 186 Red hot (q=116) 3
f
22 Fl.
Channels /M. Saunders
190
3
p
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
ff
3
p
3
3
3
3
f
f
3
ff
f
ff
ff
3
ff
ff
ff
ff
3
ff 3
mp
3
3
ff
3
3
f
f
f
f
3
mp 3 ff
ff
f
f
3
p
ff
f
fp
f
ff
fp
193
3
3
ff
3
f
Pno.
3
p
3
Pno.
3 3
Channels /M. Saunders
196
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
p
3
Vc.
f
fp
f
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
fp
p
3
3
fp
f
200
p
3
fp
3
f
f
6
f
6
f
3
3
3
f p
p
3
3
fp
poco rit.
p
p
23
3
f p
3
f
3
200
200
Fl.
Pno.
3
p
3
3
3
3
3
6
6
p
f
f
Vln.
3
molto vibrato
p
mp
poco rit.
24 Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
206
f
3
f
3
Pno.
Pno.
3
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
accel.
3
p
3
mf
f
3
accel.
Pno.
p
3
3
To Glock.
3
3
3
3
To B. Cl.
f
mf
f
f
210
3
3
f
3
f
f
Vc.
3
f
Fl.
Cooling (q=92)
p
3
p
Pno.
p
Channels /M. Saunders
Cooling (q=92)
p
p
p
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
213
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Glockenspiel brass mallets 3
3
f
mp
25
f
p
f
216
3
3
f
f
p
214 A tempo (q=116)
3
mf
p
mf
p
Pno.
f
mf
Vc.
Bass Clarinet
B. Cl.
f
A tempo (q=116)
Pno.
Fl.
214
Channels /M. Saunders
mf
mf
ff
Channels /M. Saunders 26
219
Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
ff
3
f
3
p
mf
ff
3
3
f
3
ff
mp
mf
3
p
3
f
222
ff 3
ff
Pno.
3
ff
Pno.
3
3
3
ff
ff 3
mf
mf
p
p
ff
3
To Vib.
3
3
3
ff
mp
p
mf
p
mf
Channels /M. Saunders
225
Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
mp
mp
mp
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
27 226 x=x
Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
mp
226 x=x
p
p
p
229
mf
mf
p
Pno.
mf vibe mallet
f
mp
f
mp
f
mp
mf
mf
mf
p
p
Channels /M. Saunders 28
rall.
233
Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
f
mf
f
f
mf
mf
Pno.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
p
238
pp
pp
f
mp
rall.
mp vibe mallets
p
mf
mf
f
mf
f
mp
238 Rolling (x=x, q=88)
mp
Rolling (x=x, q=88)
mf
mf
mp
p
237
Fl.
f
f
Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
Channels /M. Saunders
243
p
B. Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
p una corda
mf
p
p
3
mf
p
3
p
p
3
3
p
tre corde
p
poco accel.
3
3
3
f
Pno.
p
f
Vc.
mf
poco accel.
mf
mf
mp
p
p
249
Fl.
29
Channels /M. Saunders 30
Faster (q=116) 257 256
Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
mf
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
accel.
rit.
p
f
mp
3
f
mp
accel.
f
3
rit.
3
mp
accel.
pp una corda
3
3
To Cl.
3
3
f
a tempo
3
rit.
mp
3
mp
a tempo
3
3
3
Pno.
257 Faster (q=116)
f
261
3
B. Cl.
Fl.
f
Pno.
mp
3
mp
Vibraphone
p
3
mp
3
a tempo accel. pp (una corda)
3
f
3
rit.
3
3
mp
a tempo
(una corda) pp
Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
Channels /M. Saunders
268
277
3
3
tre corde
accel.
31
q=q
accel.
q=q
281
281
32 Fl.
B. Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Channels /M. Saunders
Twisting (h=84)
3
3
3
mp
Clarinet in Bb
3
3
p
3
3
p
3
f
mp
3
3
3
3
p mp (h=84) 281 Twisting Pno. f Vc.
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
3
f
mf
3
3
mf
3
3
3
To Glock.
3
p
f
3
3
3
3
3
3
f
f
3
3
3
3
3
f
mp
3
p
3
3
f
3
mf
3
3
3
mf
mf
mf
f 3
mf
3
3
3
3
Pno.
3
3
3
mp 3
3
3
285
3
p 3
3
Channels /M. Saunders
288
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
f 3
3
3
3
mf
f
3
mp
3
3
3
f
3
fp
mp
mf
3
3
mf
3
3
3
3
3
f
f
3
3
3
3
mf
3
3
mf
3
3
3
mp
3
3
sub. f
ff
3
3
3
f
mf
3
3
5
f
f 3
3
p
Pno.
3
pp
pp
p
pp
sub. mp
mp
3
3 3
pp
3
mp
3
f
33
3
3
3
3
mf
3
3
291
Fl.
Pno.
3
Channels /M. Saunders 34 Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
295
f
mf
snare sticks p
3
ff
3
mf
3
3
mf
3
3
3
3
3
3
f
3
f
3
3
mf
3
3
3
mf
3
mf
f
3
3
ff
3
3
3
301
mf
3
ff
3
mf
sfz
3
3
mp
3
3
3
3
ff
3
ff
mp
3 3
mf
3
f
mp
f
mp
mf
3
3
f
3
3
mp
301 3 3
3
f
300
3
snare stick
f
Pno.
3
3
mp
3
3
3
3
f
3
f
f
3
3
3
3
Fl.
Channels /M. Saunders
304
3
3
ff
3
3
Cl.
Perc.
Vln.
3
3
ff
3
mf
3
f
ff
ff
ff
ff
3
3
ff
ff
3
3
ff
3
3
3
3
f
Fl.
307
mp
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
3
3
ff
mp
3
f
3
3
3
3
mf
3
pp
3
3
3
3
3
pp
3
3
mp
mp
3
3
3
3
p
p
3
3
3
To A. Fl.
3
p
3
p
3
mf
3
3
3
Pno.
mf
3
3
3
3
f
3
3
f
mf
3
3
35
3
3
3
3
f
Vib.
Vc.
ff
3
3
pp
pp
3
3
mp
3
3
36 Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Vib.
Vln.
Vc.
311
A. Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
f
mp
p
plastic mallets
Glockenspiel
f
p
p
p
f
f
pizz.
pp sempre
mp
312 Some river! (q=54)
Alto Flute
315
312
Pno.
Channels /M. Saunders
Some river! (q=54)
mp
f
f
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
A. Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
(gliss on naturals)
mp
To Vib.
(gliss on sharps) mf
pp
gliss.
322 Into the Lake (h=48)
pp
322
mf
p
f
pp
pp
mp
322 Into the Lake (h=48) pp una corda
Pno.
pp
To Fl.
p
s.
Cl.
318
gl is
A. Fl.
37
Channels /M. Saunders
Channels /M. Saunders 38 A. Fl.
Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
328
Cl.
Perc.
Glock.
Vln.
Vc.
Pno.
pp
p
mf
whistle tone
pp
Pno.
Fl.
Vibraphone rubber mallets
p
p
p
333
arco, sul tasto
sul tasto
Flute
p
pp
pp
ppp
12'02"