PROGRAM NOTE
Ringtone Suite, a set of thirteen miniatures, was composed in response to a most intriguing proposition by the Spektral Quartet. Perhaps the words written by the quartet members to me and to the numerous other composers who were similarly approached would tell the tale best:
A couple months ago we were sitting around during a rehearsal break checking our phones and the question arose: “why are all the options for the sound settings on these things so awful?” Among the four of us, two are Apple users and two have Androids, and none of us like any of the ringtones, alarms, etc., that come stock with the phones. So we got to thinking — “hey, we like making sounds with instruments AND we have lots of amazing creative friends who could do way better than the geeks who make these gizmos. Let’s do this.”
The expectation was for nothing more than a single miniature three to thirty seconds long. However, after I composed my first tiny piece I was inspired to write another one, and another; I ended up with thirteen miniatures. And while I ordered this set of miniatures into a Suite, a quartet may choose to play as many or as few pieces as desired, in whatever order. In addition to their live performances of the music, Spektral also made the ringtones available on the Quartet’s website for downloading on one’s phone!
The titles of my miniatures are:
Bells in the Air
Tick-Tock
Petals
Spiritoso
Greener Pastures
Quicksilver
Simple Tune
Chorale-chorale
Gossamer Harp
Rite of Ring
Iowa Bells
Ring-a-Fiddle
Ring Tin Ding
—Shulamit Ran
Performance instructions:
Any number of the Suite’s thirteen miniatures, in any order, may be performed at any given time.
For Tick-Tock (No. 2), a bell in E (Zenergy Chime Bell or a similar type), to be played by the violist, is recommended (though optional).
For Iowa Bells (No. 11), a Zenergy Chime Trio or a similar type, to be played by the 2nd violinist, is needed.
INFORMATION
Commissioned by the Spektral Quartet
as part of its Ringtone Project
Premiere: March 29, 2014
Constellation, Chicago
Spektral Quartet
Duration: c. 6’
SHEET MUSIC
Coming soon!