Spiraling Light

Spiraling Light is a dark, driving percussion octet inspired by an event in Norway when a blue mysterious beam of light with a grayish spiral emanating from it appeared in the night sky. The piece features a balanced ensemble of 4 keyboard and 4 battery accessory percussion.

Program Notes

Spiraling Light was inspired by an event that took place in Norway in December of 2009, when a blue mysterious beam of light with a grayish spiral emanating from it appeared in the night sky. Initial speculations suggested it was a fireball meteor, a rare never-before-seen Northern Lights variant, or even a wormhole opening up. Unfortunately, it turned out to be much less exciting than any of those things - a failed Russian missile test. Spiraling Light attempts to capture this brief moment of mystery, uncertainty, and intensity.

Grade Level: 3
Copyright: 2016
Number of Players: 8
Duration: 5:00-5:50
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Type: Octet
Category: Percussion

Listen to Recordings

Instrumentation

Percussion 1 (xylophone, bells)
Percussion 2 (vibraphone)
Percussion 3 (4-octave marimba)*
Percussion 4 (4.3-octave marimba)*
Percussion 5 (4 timpani)
Percussion 6 (snare drum, 4 toms, triangle, wind chimes)
Percussion 7 (kick bass laid flat [or multi-bass drum], concert bass drum)
Percussion 8 (tam-tam, suspended cymbal, hi-hat, claves)

*Percussion 3 & 4 may share one 4.3-octave marimba.