Monster Sample

justinmerrittmonster for orchestra

NOTES ON THE PROGRAMMonster opens with a huge, slow-motion chorale accompanied by an intense percussion polyrhythm. The power of the opening is disrupted by a series of rough, highly rhythmic grooves. Rhythmic fragments flash back and forth from within the texture. This texture gives way to a persistent, comic ostinato

in the bassoons. The piece erupts into an intense single-voice tutti toccata based on the bassoon ostinato. The sound of this toccata is based on organ registration, with shifting timbres and ever-present organum. The effect is like an enormous organ pulling out stops until it explodes into a muscular percussion break.

While drums dominate, the tutti orchestral ensemble is also used as an additional percussion instrument. The break gives way to bursts of pp woodwind flurries. These flurries evolve into tutti scurries throughout the range of the entire orchestra. This builds to a giant restatement of the opening chorale with an intense percussion groove. This in turn culminates in a giant fff tutti trill.

The trill evaporates into the misty second section of the work. A high harmonics ostinato in the violins accompanies soulful melodies in the low strings.

“… the highlight of

the year came Nov. 9

with Justin Merritt's

Five Preludes for

piano…” -Peter

Schimpf, Bloomington Independent

Woodwind fluttertongues and an arpeggiated flurry briefly disturb the placid texture. To this sound is added percussion metals all arco (with bows). This sound field, consisting of overlapping strings playing harmonics arpeggios, gives a glistening, sparkling sheen. The monster slowly recedes into blissful nothing.

-notes by the composer

INSTRUMENTATION

3 flutes (3rd flt. doubles piccolo)3 oboes

3 Bb clarinets (3rd cl. doubles Bb b. cl.)3 bassoons (3rd bsn. doubles cbns.)

4 horns in F3 trumpets in C

2 trombonesbass trombone

tuba

timpani (set of 5)percussion (4 players)

4 high drums of different sizes, 4 low drums of different sizes, large bass drum, medium

bass drum, floor tom, 4 temple blocks, 2 brake drums, medium tam tam, 2 large tam tams,

large untuned chime, anvil, 2 suspended cymbals, china cymbal, triangle, tambourine,

whip, 2 vibraphones, tubular bells, xylophone, crotales (both octaves)

harppiano/celesta

strings

8 1 5 t h y e p a r k w a y • n o r t h f i e l d , m n • 5 0 7 - 6 4 5 - 4 8 2 0 • i n f o @ m o o n e a s t . c o m • w w w. m o o n e a s t . c o m

In 2000 composer Justin Merritt (bn. 1975) was the youngest-ever winner of the ASCAP Foundation/Rudolph Nissim Award for Janus Mask. He is also the winner of a host of other awards including the 2008-09 Copland Award, the 2008 Minnesota Orchestra Composer Institute Prize for River of Blood, and the 2006 Polyphonos Prize

He received his Bachelors from Trinity University and his Masters and Doctorate from Indiana University. H e s t u d i e d composition with Samuel Adler, Sven-David Sandström, C l a u d e B a k e r, Timothy Kramer, Don F r e u n d , a n d e l e c t ro n i c a n d computer music with Jeffrey Hass. He is currently Assistant Professor of Composition at St. Olaf College. He resides in Northfield, Minnesota with his wife Yuedong and their children Cullen Fang Ouxiang and Molly Fang Qinghe.

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“…demands an audience's

attention…Merritt's

piece was the standout.”

-Rob Hubbard,

Pioneer Press

“Several times I wrote "Wow!" next to a work being played...”

-Peter Jacobi, Herald Times


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M o n s t e rfor orchestra

Score in CDur. 10' ca

Justin Merritt(2003, rev. 2006)

Copyright 2006 (c) Justin Merritt (ASCAP)Published by JMKrause

All rights reserved

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M o n s t e r - pg. 2

this is a sample onlyto purchase the complete score or parts and

for other compositions by justinmerritt please visit:

www.mooneast.com

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other compositions by justinmerritt

! ........................................................................... .......................Janus Mask" " winds in 2s! .............................................................................................River of Blood" winds in 2s

........................................................................................................." Dervish" winds in 2s! ..............................................................................................Lachryme" string orchestra! ........................................................................................................Monster" winds in 3s

.........................................................................................................." Corde natus" SATB! .......................................................................................................Lamentations" SATB

......................................................................................................" Hay Días" SMsATBrB................................................................................................................." Nativity" SATB

................................................................................................." Adoro Te Devote" SATB...................................................................................." Fire Sermon" SSATB & orchestra

............................................................................................." Standard Deviation" violin................................................................................................." Bar for Hans Sachs" flute

......................................................................................................." Veloce" violin & piano................................................................................................................" Coupling" organ

..................................................................................................." Drum Break" percussion

.........................................................." A Gauze of Misted Silver" string quartet & harp.................................................................................................." Ravening" string quartet...................................................................................................." Invocation" 8 solo brass

............" The Day Florestan Murdered Magister Raro" clarinet, violin, cello, & piano................................................................................................." Trio " violin, cello, & piano

.............................................................................................................." 5 Preludes" piano.................................................................................." Chaconne: Mercy Endures" piano

.........................................................................................................." Rococo Suite" piano.................................................................................................." Sierpinski Gasket" piano

..........................................................................................................." Windchimes" piano..................................................................................................." Hive" 4 pianos, 16 hands

....................................................................................................." Dissonance" song cycle........................................................................................" Steps Into Stillness" song cycle

................................................................................................" Dhammapada" song cycle..........................................." London Thoroughfare, 2AM" tenor, horn, violin, & piano

" May Evening in Central Park ...........................................................! baritone & piano


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Monster Sample

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