Downtown Steel
Barbara Benary
About this work:
"Steel" is built on a pattern from traditional English bell ringing called “Grandsire Doubles.” The “bells” are diads in more or less parallel fifths, set over an addative rhythm cycle. The overall structure follows the rhythmic model of north Indian music. In the course of the piece the bell ringing pattern is subject to systematic rhythmic dimunition, and includes a break for drum solo.
The title refers to the metal from which the instruments of my gamelan set are made, and the initial version of the piece was for that set. It is also a tribute to the feeling of spaciousness and restrained violence in certain pieces of the rock group “Steely Dan.”
Version: wind ensemble
Year composed: 1993
Duration: 00:11:39
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Other Combinations, 6-9 players
Instrumentation:
Instrumentation notes: clarinet, soprano sax, trombone, tuba, piano, glockenspiel-marimba, vibraphone, drum set, general percussion