E/Gone (In Memoriam Egon Scotland)
David Hahn
About this work:
Egon Scotland was a Knight Fellow in journalism at Stanford University in 1989. I studied Serbo-Croatian in a class with him. He was a reporter for the Süddeutsche Zeitung out of Munich. While trying to gather news of the civil war in the former-Yugoslavia, he was shot and killed. He was killed at the height of the summer when the crickets were dizzingly loud in two’s and three’s.
Year composed: 1993
Duration: 00:05:47
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Other Combinations, 2-5 players
Instrumentation: 2 Cello, 1 Prerecorded Sound (Tape/CD/Other)
Instrumentation notes: This piece is a duet for 'cellos over a pre-recorded tape. Exact rhythmic values are not given in the notation to allow for a freer, improvisational performance. The tape is an environment in which the duet is played. A well-balanced performance will allow the instrumental duet to be clearly heard above the tape which should be kept to a medium-soft volume. The stage is as dark as possible. Players use tinted stand lights.
1. Wait about 30” into the tape before beginning.
2. The notes values are suggested and not to be counted as traditional whole notes. Give weight to each note keeping in mind the sense of the overall phrase. As a reference, at the beginning of the piece, the "whole note" values should be about mm=40.
3. The diamond shaped notes should be played about a quarter-tone higher than written.
4. Pay attention to the relative placement of the notes between the parts.
5. A line between two notes means they are to be played simultaneously.
6. When you are finished, turn off your stand lights. 20-30” of tape will end the piece.
Stage Direction: Speakers should be placed stage left and right behind the players. When the performers have finished, fade the slide into view on a screen behind them. Dissolve to black after 10-15 seconds.