twenty yd. penalty  

Ingredients

• toy piano (25 key) • piano • violin/guitar pitch pipe • chess pieces or something to represent chess pieces • game clock or something to represent a game clock • a neutral decoration to place on the piano like a flower vase, fish bowl, potpourri, etc.

General Notes This piece is written for two performers. One player mainly plays piano throughout the piece, the other mainly plays toy piano. Both performers should be physically fit enough to run for consecutive short durations, bend over, and crawl, and the toy pianist must have the ability to pick up and move the instrument short distances. In the score the pianist will be referred to as Castle and the toy pianist will be referred to as Horse. The instruments will be referred to by their actual names. The piece is broken down into three main sections separated by the physical movements involved. Each section should flow into the next with no distinct pauses other than ones specified. Initial stage setup The two instruments should be positioned on the stage so that the performers, when facing their respective instruments, face away from each other. The setup should look something like Diagram 1. The chess pieces should be arranged on the piano, in reach from the keyboard, in some order resembling a chess game. The arrangement will depend on the total number of pieces and their shape/size. There should at least be enough pieces to make opposing rows. To the left of the chess setup should be the game clock. The game clock could be anything that changes state ever so slightly by moving or touching it. For instance, a brick would probably not make a good game clock. Some sort of neutral decoration, such as a vase of flowers or a fishbowl, can be placed on the other side of the piano for added ambiance.  

Diagram 1: Initial Stage Setup Part 1 Both players walk on stage and stand facing their instruments but away from each other. The musicians stare blankly ahead for some amount of time, around 30 seconds. With a signal from Horse, both players attack their first notes and immediately scatter. Segments of activity are punctuated with specific notes produced from each player’s respective instrument. These actions and notes are mapped out on the next page in Diagram 2. The player will have to perform the activity and get back to the instrument within the time constraint. If the segment is more dependent on the completion of an action as opposed to a timed action, the time is notated with the variable “X.” Notes should always be played sforzando unless otherwise indicated. The intent should be to produce simultaneity between both instruments, but in the realization in performance it is acceptable to produce rhythmically consecutive pitches as well. Each attack should be accompanied by a brief bodily freeze, about one second. When a register is specified the player should preserve it. If the players feel more or less time is needed to complete a timed event, seconds may be added or subtracted.  

Diagram 2: Part 1

Part 2

Horse picks up toy piano and walks around with it for the amount of steps specified in each bar shown in Diagram 3 on the opposite page. After completing each set of steps, the instrument is put down and then the keyboard is struck. Pitch selection is left entirely to the performer. The pacing, placing and picking-up of the toy piano, and the striking of the notes should all be to a somewhat steady pulse. The pacing sequence will repeat 3 times. The toy piano plays single notes the first time through. Second time through they can be dyads, trichords, or single notes. The third time they can be anything greater than one note at a time. Distance and area traveled during this section is left to the performer, but the final clusters must be played with the toy piano and piano across from each horizontally on stage so that both players are facing away from each other which will be the arrangement for the rest of the piece, seen in Diagram 4. Castle leans against the piano in front of the chess setup, looking heavily invested in the game. Castle makes calculated moves against an unseen opponent. Movements should at first be relatively slow and gentle, getting more intense throughout the repeats, becoming incredibly passionate by the end of Part 2. Piano notes should be pianissimo at the beginning of the section and fortissimo by the end. Each chess move should be completed in this way:

1. A chess piece is moved 2. The game clock is interacted with (whether that means hitting it or moving it in some way depends on the object chosen) 3. A single particular note is played (same note every time)

At the end of the section, signified by Horse playing 10 clusters on the toy piano, Castle swipes all pieces onto the floor in passionate frustration after losing the game.  

Diagram 3: Part 2 step sequence

 

 

 

 

Diagram 4: Stage arrangement for Part 3

Part 3 Instruments are now positioned so that the players face opposite sides of the stage, facing away from each other. Both players stand straight, Horse facing the toy piano and Castle facing the piano (Diagram 4). Players stand this way, breathing deeply, for about 20 seconds. After, Horse turns to Castle and slowly walks towards the piano. Once at the piano Horse depresses and sustains a key softly in the middle register. As soon as the sound is produced Castle turns and slowly walks towards the toy piano. Once Castle strikes a note on the toy piano both players turn to face each other. The two players then walk towards the other player’s instrument, passing each other in the middle, and play a random note. Players should walk at a similar pace so as to hit notes around the same time. They do this at a moderate pace 6 times total. After, Castle begins to speed up pacing until in a jog or a run while Horse slows down. Castle runs back and forth for as long as it takes Horse to go between the instruments 3 times. During the last time, Horse gradually gets closer to the floor until in a crawl. Once in reach of the keyboard Horse collapses as if giving up, arm outstretched to the toy piano to hit a key. Castle runs and slides into a position slightly sitting under the piano. Castle then hits a key. Whatever key each respective player hits is the note that will be repeated until the end. Back and forth, with whatever spacing and timing, the players play their note 10 times each. A player cannot play their note without the other player’s note coming before it. When all 20 notes are played, the players rest silently for at least 10 seconds before getting up from their positions.

End.

 

middle  of  the  ninth