Fear Cage

Kirk J. Gay

Fear Cage

duet for timpani with audio soundscape

Fear Cage by Kirk J. Gay Š 2009 Tapspace Publications LLC (ASCAP), Portland, Oregon.

All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Printed in USA. www.tapspace.com

Fear Cage video produced by Will Vizoso.

Notice of Liability: Any duplication, adaptation, or arrangement of any text or composition contained herein requires the written consent of the copyright owner. No part of any composition contained herein may be photocopied or reproduced in any way without permission. Unauthorized uses are an infringement of the U.S. Copyright Act and are punishable by law.

TSPCD-07

Program Notes Fear Cage is a term used by paranormal researchers to describe a confined space with high Electro-Magnetic Field (or EMF) readings. In such areas one who is sensitive to these high readings can feel uneasiness, paranoia, anxiety, nausea and uncontrollable fear. Some researchers also believe that this type of magnetic field is conducive to sprit or ghost type activity.

This concept became my inspiration for this duet. I incorporated the use of two sets of timpani configured to encircle (or cage if you will) the two players inside the drums. With this setup I was able to experiment with different techniques musically and visually such as the rotation of the players around the timpani. With the use of nine drums I was able to use a G harmonic minor scale between the two sets. This enabled me to write more melodically than would be normally possible with one set of drums.

This piece was composed for my student, Jon Cooper and the first performance took place on December 6, 2008 at the University of Central Florida. The timpanists were Jon Cooper and myself. Special thanks goes to my wife Kimberley who’s love for the show “Ghost Hunters” first introduced me the to concept of a fear cage.

I would also like to thank composer Jay Batzner for his creation of the background track which adds texture and layers to the musical composition. Please check out more of his work at www.jaybatzner.com. Also, special thanks goes to Will Vizoso for his outstanding work in producing the video of Fear Cage which you’ll find on the included disc.

- Kirk J. Gay

Performance Notes This piece is to be played with an accompanying audio track. You’ll find this as a wave file on the accompanying CD-rom. With this file, you may elect to playback the audio file by burning it to a CD, playing it from a laptop, or importing into another device such as an iPod. This track is just for atmosphere and should be audible to the audience but not overpower the acoustic instruments. While there is nothing to line up with the audio track there is a cue at 0:31 seconds to signal the end of the ad lib in measure 2.

The piece begins with an improvisation section for both players that should last approximately 30 seconds.

Player 1 should place the high D crotale on their 26” drum and the low G crotale on the 29” drum. The player should alternate bowing the two crotales while moving the pedal to create a “whale call” effect. Player 2 should place a prayer bowl on the 32” drum and strike it with the felt end of a timpani mallet while moving the pedal up and down. The player can also add in the bamboo wind chimes.

For player 1, anytime a high Bb is encountered it’s intended to be played on player 2’s highest (20”) drum.

Bar 57 is an open solo for player 1. The player can experiment with the use of hands or other implements in this section and is free to play in whatever tempo they would like. Player 2 continues to play the eight notes in the tempo of the last section. In bar 61 Player 1 will play their part in the tempo from player 2.

In bar 94 both players will move to the right going up the drums to the other set of drums. The player will continue to read their same line but the pitches written will be those of the other set of drums. In bar 101 and 102 the players will transition back to their own set of drums.

In the section starting in measure 104 the two players will alternately play on the 20” drum. For the best visual effect for the audience have this section memorized or have the music stand low and flat so that it does not obscure the audience’s sight line of the drums. In measure 110 each player can play in their own tempo until they fade out on the last roll. The last two measures are ad lib and should be similar to the beginning of the piece.

Medium-hard mallets should be used throughout this piece, except for bars 69-79 where medium-soft mallets will work best. It is recommended that this piece be performed with lower stage lighting to add to the dramatic effect. Small stand lights can be used to aid with this. The audio background track should be faded out during the last ad lib section.

Instrument list and suggested setup

Player 1

Player 2

Set of 4 standard timpani (32”-29”-26”-23”)

Set of 5 timpani (32”-29”-26”-23”-20”) Bamboo Wind Chimes

Table Setup: 1. High D crotale 2. Low G crotale 3. Bass Bow 4. Mallets

Table Setup: 1. Prayer bowl 2. Mute 3. Mallets

Level: Medium Approximate playing time: 7’00”

Fear Cage

Kirk J. Gay

duet for timpani with audio soundscape Slowly q = 82

       

           Ad lib - bowed crotales (30 secs)

Timpani 1

bowl & bamboo wind chimes (30 secs)   Ad lib - prayer         

Timpani 2

        

5

1

2

  





              



   

    

 

3





mf

      

mf

f

    

 

  

 

6                                  3

11

1

mf

  



q = 132

                 f

2

mp

f

   gliss.   

15

1

2

     

2

   

  



                        3  mp 3                           

 

 

 

3

f

       

   x x                            

19

1

  

  



  

RRLRRLRRLRRLRRLR

RLRRL

                           

© 2009 Tapspace Publications LLC (ASCAP), Portland, Oregon.

All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Printed in USA.

Fear Cage - Kirk J. Gay 24

1

2

     

  



   



29

1

2

                

  

         



 



mp

2

 

    

mf

                  

 

mf

mp

                mf

mp

 

mf

34

1

3





 

mp

         

mf





             

    

                            mf                 

39

1

2

mf

44

1

2

 





                 

  



         TSPCD-07

Fear Cage - Kirk J. Gay

4 49

1

2

 

2

   

2

        

64

1

2

2

pp

                            

       rit.

 

   

 

 

     

q = 60

        

           

TSPCD-07

   

(vamp)

add mute on G

71

1



     



       

           

Player 1 - open solo (15-20 sec.)

59

1

                          

                54

1





remove mute

  

  







           

mf



   

 

mf

 

   

           

  

  

  

Fear Cage - Kirk J. Gay 78

1

2

   

   



mp

bamboo wind chimes      

 

1

2

ppp

  



mp

   

  

  



     

  

83



5

accel.



  

2

93

1

2

   

  

1

                f

2

 

            





fp

            3

              



    mf

  

f

       



fp

(on other player's timpani)

f

mp

f



            

         

  



               



(on other player's timpani)

97



q = 132

3                    

               

mp

ppp

88

1





        



mf



   

   

 

   TSPCD-07

Fear Cage - Kirk J. Gay

6 101

1

2

 

2

 

 





2







  





f











                                                          

                                                   

               

      

q = ? (in your own time)



 



          3

2



      

112

1

                  f

         

108

1



     

(move back to org. timpani)

  

105

1

(move back to org. timpani)

TSPCD-07

3

   p

        

          3

  



molto rit.

   

 

       

Ad lib - like the beginning (30 secs)

       

Ad lib - like the beginning (30 secs)

  