Quiz: Mystery scores

[Cato]

Sikorski! Another composer unknown to me: add him to the list!

I will only need a few hundred thousand dollars to investigate all of these composers!   

[listener]

9=  RAVEL   Bolero?   
edit: No,  didn't count the beats   Bolero is in 3

[(poco) Sforzando]

9=  RAVEL   Bolero?

I think that could be Stravinsky's Circus Polka.

[Luke]

Funny, I thought the same thing, but I don't think it is (unless the orchestral score doesn't resemble the 2 piano score I checked with in the slightest)

[Maciek]

I think it's Scherzo a la Russe. Well, I'm almost certain (the horns!).

[(poco) Sforzando]

I think it's Scherzo a la Russe. Well, I'm almost certain (the horns!).

I think you're right. Well, I'm almost certain.

[EigenUser]

I think it's Scherzo a la Russe. Well, I'm almost certain (the horns!).

I think you're right. Well, I'm almost certain.

Yeah! I played this piece in orchestra a few years ago and I've loved it since.

[Karl Henning]

It's great fun!

You played the "straight orchestral" scoring?

[EigenUser]

It's great fun!

You played the "straight orchestral" scoring?

Yeah, not the original jazz band one. I do like the orchestral one better. My stand partner thought that it was the most annoying thing ever composed (as much as I like it, I can see why someone might think that) and we would always argue about it! Good memories.

I also like how our conductor described the ending: "It doesn't resolve, and Stravinsky leaves you in mid-air!"

[Luke]

20. The title is a bit weird. Some sort of futuristic-alien sounding language.

When I saw that clue I immediately thought of one piece. And therefore I have a couple of guesses, though I think they are wrong - the handwriting is vaguely similar but not quite right, and the substance of the score is also close-ish but not really what I'd expect either, but even so, just in case: is it either Uaxuctum or Konx-Om-Pax by Scelsi? As I say, I would be very surprised if it was, but it's worth a punt!

[Luke]

22. In one section the composer asks the soloist to play "like a muted jazz trumpet". The instrument is not a muted jazz trumpet, though! In another section, he pays tribute to a legendary musician with an annotation "Here's to you, Satchmo!"

I knew it was cello (as a cellist that's pretty obvious, from the bowings, harmonics and especially from the thumb position in the first bar and the tenor clef later on, which mean it can't be viola or violin); I also knew, I think, that you liked Ohana (a fine choice, if I may say so). But I didn't connect the two. But the clue helps - this must be Ohana's Cello Concerto 'In Dark and Blue'

[kishnevi]

When I saw that clue I immediately thought of one piece. And therefore I have a couple of guesses, though I think they are wrong - the handwriting is vaguely similar but not quite right, and the substance of the score is also close-ish but not really what I'd expect either, but even so, just in case: is it either Uaxuctum or Konx-Om-Pax by Scelsi? As I say, I would be very surprised if it was, but it's worth a punt!

My first thought was Koyaanisqatsi  but I have no way of figuring it if that guess would be even half way correct.  Plus I had to look it up to know how to spell it before I could post.

[Luke]

It's not Koyaanisqatsi - apart from stylistic attributes, that's a type-set score, and no wood blocks/temple blocks in it. Here's a sample page of the Glass for comparison:

[kishnevi]

It's not Koyaanisqatsi - apart from stylistic attributes, that's a type-set score, and no wood blocks/temple blocks in it. Here's a sample page of the Glass for comparison:

Well, I was just guessing via the name. 
You know, I hate to say this, but even on paper that music looks boring......

[kishnevi]

Re:  Nate/EigenUser's #20   
The violas are labeled with an "A" [pour alto] which suggests a French, or at least Francophone, composer

[Luke]

Well, I was just guessing via the name. 
You know, I hate to say this, but even on paper that music looks boring.....

When I (attempt to) teach my students about minimalism, Koyaanisqatsi is always what wins them over - I tell them: here's a film with no characters, no plot, no dialogue....enjoy! Then I see their faces fall...and then their jaws drop as they watch it. This is the scene that they love most, and it's also the one from which the above page comes:

http://www.youtube.com/v/nq_SpRBXRmE

(if you really are worried about boredom watch from about 4 minutes in)

[EigenUser]

It's great fun!

You played the "straight orchestral" scoring?

Also, I have Stravinsky's arrangement for two pianos, which my friend and I occasionally play just for fun.

Well, I was just guessing via the name. 
You know, I hate to say this, but even on paper that music looks boring......

When I saw that clue I immediately thought of one piece. And therefore I have a couple of guesses, though I think they are wrong - the handwriting is vaguely similar but not quite right, and the substance of the score is also close-ish but not really what I'd expect either, but even so, just in case: is it either Uaxuctum or Konx-Om-Pax by Scelsi? As I say, I would be very surprised if it was, but it's worth a punt!

Nope. You're thinking too hard!

I knew it was cello (as a cellist that's pretty obvious, from the bowings, harmonics and especially from the thumb position in the first bar and the tenor clef later on, which mean it can't be viola or violin); I also knew, I think, that you liked Ohana (a fine choice, if I may say so). But I didn't connect the two. But the clue helps - this must be Ohana's Cello Concerto 'In Dark and Blue'

Yes, indeed! I got the cello/piano reduction on interlibrary loan, but I think I'll end up buying my own copy. My favorite cello concerto ever, actually. I've been playing the piano part and also I've been trying to play the cello part my viola. I think I'll transcribe it to make it easier to read (so I don't have to think about jumping around octaves while I'm playing). A lot of fun to play.

I don't understand the reason for the obscurity of this work. I mean, I'm not trying to claim that it is an absolute masterpiece (whatever one might interpret that to mean), but it really has a lot of attractive qualities. So does the piano concerto.

[Luke]

Re:  Nate/EigenUser's #20   
The violas are labeled with an "A" [pour alto] which suggests a French, or at least Francophone, composer

Yeah, I saw that, and Scelsi uses Viole, which is another of the reasons I don't think it's him. He also capitalises in a way this score doesn't, and his handwriting is tidier (I say Scelsi, I mean: the person who handwrote Scelsi's scores, which probably wasn't him anyway,seeing as he had little men to do that sort of thing for him)

[Luke]

Nope. You're thinking too hard!

Alternatively, and closer to the truth, I'm not thinking at all...

[EigenUser]

DO NOT GUESS THIS! unless you are Ken! He has been wanting to guess this piece for a while. It is one of his favorites. I'm sure everyone here knows it (even I would get it!).

23.