For 4 Performers and 4 Chromatic Pitch Pipes
Performance instructions: Each note indicated on the pitch pipe will occur three times. Each instance of every note will be held for the length of breath available to each performer. The piece will be taken at each performer’s own pace, but for the most part there will be overlap with duplicate notes, or maybe one performer will be slightly ahead or slightly behind the others.
To begin: Player 1 will start. Partway into the first note, player 2 will start, and so on. There are eight instances of single notes (fig. 2-9).
Double stops: After the 8 single notes are completed, you will notice two notes are circled (fig.10). Those will be played simultaneously. Once a player has completed the first double stop in fig. 10, there will be three or four double stops (remember, each instance is played three times) on the right side of the pitch pipe (fig. 11). The player has the freedom to choose which double stops they’d like to play, and they do not have to be held the full length of their breath. However, they should still be held— no staccatos yet. After the three or four double stops on the right side, each player will begin to make their way to the left side with double stops (fig. 12). There will be three or four double stops on the lower right and left side of the pitch pipe. At this point, each instance can be played two times instead of three if a player chooses.
Popcorn: After a player has completed their double stops, they will return to playing single notes but only on the left side (fig. 13). Start off holding the notes for at least half of your breath ability, but as the other players join in, the notes can become more staccato. Eventually, make your way to the right side of the pitch pipe while becoming more and more chaotic with your note choices. Players may move back and forth between all sides of the pitch pipe (fig. 14-16). Feel free to throw in a few double stops (or triple stops) here and there, too. Keep the energy high but not destructive! After the peak of the popcorn section (fig. 17), slowly increase the time between notes and decrease the frequency of notes played until the piece comes to a stop (fig.
20).