Action Figure
Armando Bayolo
About this work:
Action figures are muscular, grandiloquent, plastic sculptures, often depicting comic book, film and television heroes and meant as children’s playthings; and they are a particular passion of mine. Action Figure, written in early 2002, is meant as an ode to these childhood playthings. Its mood is heroic, dramatic and, at times, pompous. Like the figures which give the piece its name, however, it’s simply meant to be a lot of fun.
Musically, Action Figure is a simple study in rhythm and velocity. Its main focus is a growing pulse, at first tentative but eventually growing to overpower all sense of melodic and motivic construction. Structurally, Action Figure is a somewhat abortive ternary form in which the return of the first section is crassly interrupted. The ending, therefore, is open. The piece should continue onto a more satisfying conclusion but it is foiled by the insistent force of the sixteenth note a-flats. Has the villain won? Perhaps we will find out….in the sequel?
Year composed: 2002
Duration: 00:05:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Other Combinations, 6-9 players
Instrumentation: 1 Flute, 1 Clarinet, 1 Percussion (General), 1 Piano, 1 Violin, 1 Cello
Instrumentation notes: Percussion (one player): Marimba, kick drum (pedal bass drum), snare drum, woodblock.