Floating Falling
William Susman
About this work:
This work was commissioned by cellist Andre Emelianoff. The first performance took place at Merkin Concert Hall in NYC in 1987 with Andre Emelianoff on cello and Jonathan Haas on timpani.
Timpani virtuoso Jonathan Haas originally suggested the idea of a cello and timpani duo to Andre Emelianoff. Written entirely using graph paper, the work explores drumming motion of the timpani against the cello's aggressive rising and falling melodic line. Susman drew patterns on the graph paper that formed various symmetries and then transferred them to pitch.
Floating Falling (1987) along with Twisted Figures (1988) and Uprising (1988) begin to explore repetitive rhythms. These works look forward to his montuno / Afro-Cuban influenced music of the 90s and away from an older Eurocentric aesthetic.
Year composed: 1987
Duration: 00:08:30
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Other Combinations, 2-5 players
Instrumentation: 1 Timpani, 1 Cello
Instrumentation notes: 5 timpani drums are needed.