Work
Staccato lightning : a work for choir (SATB) and three amplified classical guitars
by Cathy Applegate (2006)
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Score
Staccato lightning : a work for choir (SATB) and three amplified classical guitars / words and music by Cathy Applegate.
Library shelf no. Q 782.5542/APP 1 [Available for loan]
Display all products featuring this work (1 more) 
Work Overview
Every year in the run up to the monsoon, Darwin is treated to
spectacular lightning storms. They are heralded by huge black
anvil-shaped clouds that amass on the horizon before moving over
the city.
Many locals move chairs out onto verandahs and sit watching the
drama of the light show in the night sky. During these storms the
sky is totally lit up every few seconds and the air feels
completely electrified. The thunder varies from low threatening
rumbles, to ear shattering crashes.
It is no wonder that lightning storms have been associated with
various forms of spirituality in many cultures. The local
indigenous people have depicted their lightning god in
magnificent rock art at Kakadu.
Staccato lightning is a cloud to ground lightning
discharge which appears as a bright, short duration stroke, often
with considerable branching.
Work Details
Year: 2006
Instrumentation: SATB choir, 3 amplified classical guitars.
Duration: 5 min.
Difficulty: Advanced
Commission note: Commissioned by Darwin Chorale.
First performance: by Darwin Chorale — Jul 07. International Guitar Festiva, at the Supreme Court Building, Darwin
In this piece I have used the detached note quality of the guitar along with a special technique called Bartok pizzicato in which the player picks the string up between the fingers allowing it to slap back against the fingerboard. I have used this effect in a syncopated rhythm over the top of a baseline driving rhythm in order to try to capture some of the excitement, drama and unpredictability of the Darwin lightning storms.
Subjects
- Has as subject/About: Landscape and Nature
Performances of this work
Jul 07: International Guitar Festiva, at the Supreme Court Building, Darwin. Featuring Darwin Chorale.
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