Login

Enter your username and password

Forgotten your username or password?

Your Shopping Cart

There are no items in your shopping cart.

Song of the central tree

Sheet Music: Score

Song of the central tree : a setting of the poem by Keith Harrison / music: Ron Nagorcka ; text: Keith Harrison.

by Ron Nagorcka (2010)

  • Purchase Price: $40.00 (Usually ships in 3-8 business days) — Add to Cart
  • Library Availability: Q 783.12542/NAG 1 — Available for loan
  • Instrumentation: Basso profundo, contralto, cello, trombone and midi keyboard controlling a computer (laptop) audio program (necessary "soundfont" files supplied by composer on request), stereo playback.(Alto could be replaced by clarinet or violin).
  • Digital Library -- View full score online*

    Members:
    Not a member? Become a member online and access the Digital Library immediately

    * This item is not yet in the Digital Library. Members can make an online request which will be reviewed in 2 business days
  • Audio Sample

    Performance by Ron Nagorcka, Ole Jorgen Melhus, Nina Sautherhaug, Hakan Henriksen, Sven Ivar Frydenlund from the CD Song of the central tree

$40.00

Add to Cart

Usually ships in 3-8 business days

Shipping Info

Product details

Inspired by a poem about a tree, this slow setting uses a "just intonation" scale utilising intervals based on the 7th harmonic as well as more familiar harmonies. This may sound strange in theory, but audiences do not find it at all difficult to listen to - and it has proved to be a favourite in concerts. The electronic keyboard part is crucial to this work, containing extensive manipulation of the composer's voice and other recorded sounds.

Published by: Australian Music Centre — 1 facsimile score (15p. -- B4 (portrait))

Difficulty: Advanced — Requires a bass voice to sing low A. The piece is in just intonation and uses an unfamiliar notation for accidentals. However, the harmonies are not difficult to get used to.

Duration: 6 mins

First performance 20 May 12. Velaslavasay Panorama, Los Angeles, California

Includes source poem, performance notes, and notes on tuning & notation.

The composer notes the following styles, genres, influences, etc on this work:

Electronic manipulation (sampling techniques derived from musique concrete) is used as the basis of a piece which is otherwise strangely conventional. This is one of many works by this composer using the tuning system known as "just intonation" which has a strong following in California where pioneers such as Harry Partch and Lou Harrison worked and where Ron Nagorcka studied in the 1970s.

The composer provides this additional note:

As explained in the score, the composer will provide "soundfont" files for the keyboard/electronic part on request. The sound issuing from every note on the keyboard is determined by these files once they are loaded into an appropriate audio program.

Typeset edition.

This edition produced 28 Apr 14.

ISMN: 979-0-720132-43-3

Analysis & Media

- Resonate Article: Ron Nagorcka and the freedom to be independent


User reviews

Be the first to share your thoughts, opinions and insights about this item.

To post a comment please login