Simple Objects For Orchestra

Brian Petuch 2012

About the Work

Simple Objects for Orchestra was written during the fall of 2012 and is my second work for orchestra. The work features several very simple motifs that are developed and repeated throughout the work. The motifs are developed in very traditional ways (augmentations, transpositions, diminutions, etc.), but I have also taken the motifs and used them as textural color in addition to them functioning as a main melodic idea. My overall structural goal with the work was to maintain a high level of clarity with the motifs so the listener can hear how they are developed and how they interact with each other.

The shapes of the two movements are mirror images of each other. The first movement starts out with string harmonics in a very high register, then the movement expands the register and dynamics, and then finally it returns to the string harmonics in the high register. This is contrasted in the second movement where the work starts out with pizzicato in the very low register of the strings, then the movement expands the register and dynamics, and finally it returns to the low register pizzicato in the strings.

The names of the two movements, Like Evening Clouds in Slow Motion and Like Dancers in Unsteady Rhythm,

are not meant as programmatic titles, but instead they are a visual analogy to describe the overall tone and style of the movements.

Brian Petuch

2012

Instrumentation

2 Flutes (2nd doubling Piccolo)

2 Oboes

2 Clarinets in Bb

2 Bassoons

4 Horns in F

3 Trumpets in Bb

2 Tenor Trombones

Bass Trombone

Tuba

Piano

Timpani

Percussion 1

Vibraphone (motor off)

Bass Drum (shared)

Percussion 2

Glockenspiel

Tambourine (shared)

Marimba

Triangle

Percussion 3

Xylophone

Tambourine (shared)

Violins I

Violins II

Violas

Cellos

Basses

Special Notation !

Pitches inside of the box should be played in free time and independent of the conductor for the

length of the measure or the length of the extended dark line.

Ex. 1 Pitches are repeated through the extended dark line until the dotted vertical line

Ex. 2 Pitches are repeated for the duration of the measure

!

Performers are also given instructions on whether to play the pitches in order or to randomize

the order of the pitches. The frequency of the pitches is up to the discretion of the performer,

but generally the pitches should be spaced out more sparsely than performed rapidly.

Flute 1

Flute 2

Oboe 1

Violin I

Violin II

Violoncello

pp p

q = 45

pp p

p

ppp pp p

q = 45

ppp pp

pp p

Fl. 1

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Hn. 3

Hn. 4

Tpt.1

Tpt. 3

Perc. 1

Perc. 2

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

pp

A15

pp

mp mf

p mp

pp mp

pp mp

pp mp

pp mp

pp mp

p mp

pp mp

A

p

mp pp mp

A

mp mp mf

mp p mp

mp p

Transposed Score

Duration 9 min.

Sustained and Organic

1. Like Evening Clouds in Slow Motion

for OrchestraSimple Objects

Brian Petuch

Sustained and Organic

gliss.

3 3

3

3

3

3 3

Vibraphone

3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Glockenspiel

div.

Fl. 1

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Hn. 3

Hn. 4

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Tpt. 3

Tba.

Perc. 1

Perc. 2

Pno.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

pp p pp p

rit. A tempo B22

pp p pp p

mp pp p pp p

p mp pp p pp p

p pp p

p p

pp pp

p

pp mp pp

pp mp pp

ppp mp pp

pp mp pp

p pp

pp

pp mp

pp mp pp

mp prit. A tempo B

mp pp mp

mpmp

p mp

pp ppp p pp ppp p

rit. A tempoB

mp mp ppp pp p

mp ppp p

mp pp ppp ppp

mp p

3

3

gliss.

gliss. gliss.

Play pitches sparsely and in order

Play pitches sparsely and in order

(vibes)

Play pitches freely and in order

(glock) l.v.

3

(roll quickly)

3

unis.

pizz. arco div. unis. gliss. gliss.

pizz.

Play pitches sparsely and randomize order

arco III

gliss.

pizz.

arco

4

Fl. 1

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 2

Hn. 3

Hn. 4

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Tpt. 3

Tbn. 1

Tbn. 2

B. Tbn.

Tba.

Timp.

Perc. 1

Perc. 3

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mp

30

mp

mp mf

mp mf

mf

mp mf

mp

mp

mp mf

mf

mp mf

p mf

p mf

p mf

mp mf

mp mf

mp mp mf

mp mf

mp mf

mf

mp mf

mp mf

mp mf

mf

p

mp

mp mf

mp mf

Play sparsely and randomize order

Play sparsely and randomize order

gliss. gliss.gliss.

gliss. gliss.

gliss.

(vibes)

Bass Drum

gliss. gliss.

gliss. gliss. gliss.

gliss. gliss.gliss. gliss.

div.

unis.

5

Fl. 1

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 2

Hn. 3

Hn. 4

Tpt.1

Tpt. 2

Tpt. 3

Tbn. 1

Tbn. 2

B. Tbn.

Tba.

Timp.

Perc. 1

Perc. 2

Perc. 3

Pno.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f ff p

rit.

C38

f ff mf

f ff mp p delicate

f ff mp p delicate

ff p delicate

f p delicate

f ff

f ff

mf p mp f ff

p mp f ff

p mp f ff

mp f ff

p

p

p

f ff mp

f ff mp

f ff mp

f ff mp

f ff

rit. C

f ff

f p mp delicate

f ff mp

f p delicate

ff

mf

mf

f

f

ff pdelicate

rit. C

f

f

ffp

delicate

f ff p delicate

f ff p

f ff p

gliss.

A tempo

gliss.

Play less sparsely than before and randomize order

Play less sparsely than before and randomize order

gliss.

gliss.

A tempo

(vibes)

Play freely and in order

Randomize order

mp

(glock)

Randomize order

Play freely and in order

l.v.

(bass drum)

Play freely and in order

div.

gliss. sul tasto

A tempo

div. gliss. gliss. sul tasto

div. gliss.

unis. gliss.sul tasto

gliss.

6

Fl. 1

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 1

Bsn. 2

Hn. 1

Hn. 3

Perc. 1

Perc. 2

Pno.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

pdelicate

mp p

D47

p delicate mp p

p mp ppp

pp p mp

p mp p

p mp

p delicate

p delicate mp ppp

ppdelicate

p

p delicate ppp

p delicate

D

delicate

ppp

pp p mp p

D

pp p pp

pp

p delicate pp

p delicate mp

mute (mute out)

mute (mute out)

(vibes)

(glock) l.v.

l.v.

gliss. gliss.

unis.ord.

gliss. gliss. unis.ord.

gliss. gliss.

7

Fl. 1

Fl. 2

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Perc. 1

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

ppp p pp ppp

59

ppp p pp

p pp ppp

ppp p pp ppp

ppp

p pp

pp ppp nothing

p pp ppp nothing

p pp ppp nothing

p pp ppp nothing

p

(vibes)

ord.

8

Piccolo

Flute 1

Oboe 1

Oboe 2

Clarinet in Bb 1

Clarinet in Bb 2

Bassoon 12

Horn in F 13

Horn in F 24

Trumpet in Bb 1

Trumpet in Bb 23

Trombone 12

Bass Trombone

Tuba

Timpani

Percussion 1

Percussion 2

Percussion 3

Piano

Violin I

Violin II

Viola

Violoncello

Contrabass

mff

q = 108

mf mp ffp

mf mp f

mp f mp

mp

mp

mp

mp

p mp

mp

mp

f

f

mp

mp

mp

p p f

q = 108

mp f

f

mf f

fmp

pp f

q = 108

pp f

mp f

mp p mf

mp mp

Buoyant

(Flute 2)

3 3

2. Like Dancers in Unsteady Rhythm

3 3

3 3

3

2.

Buoyant

Bass Drum To Vibes

Vibraphone

Tambourine To Mar.

Xylophone

3 3

Buoyant

gliss.

pizz.

pizz.

9

Picc.

Fl. 1

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 12

Hn. 13

Tpt.1

Tpt. 23

B. Tbn.

Timp.

Perc. 1

Perc. 2

Perc. 3

Pno.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mp mp pp

10

pp mp

ppexpressive

mp pp mp mf

mp

mp mf

mp mf

mp

mp

mp

mp

mp mp

mf

mp mf

mp mf

p mfmp p

mp

mp mfmp

mp mf

mp

mp mf

mp

mp

3.

2. 3.

(vibes)

To Bass Drum

Bass Drum To Vib.

Marimba

To Tambourine

Tambourine To Marimba

(xyl.)

pizz. arco

arco

10

Picc.

Fl. 1

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Hn. 13

Hn. 24

Tpt.1

Tpt. 23

Tbn. 12

B. Tbn.

Perc. 1

Perc. 2

Perc. 3

Pno.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

p mf mf

18

p mf

mp mf mp

mp mf

mp mf mp mf

mf mp mf

mp

mf

mfmp

mp

mf f

mp

mp

f

f

mf

mf

mp

mf

mp

mp

mp mp

3

3

4.

2. a2

Vibraphone To Bass Drum

Marimba

To Triangle

(xyl.)

pizz.

arco

11

Picc.

Fl. 1

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 12

Hn. 13

Hn. 24

Tpt.1

Tpt. 23

Tbn. 12

B. Tbn.

Tba.

Timp.

Perc. 1

Perc. 2

Perc. 3

Pno.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f

A24

f mf

f f f

f f

f f mf f

ff mf

f mp

fmf

f

mf

f mf

f mf

f

f

f

f f

A

f

f mp f mp

f p f

fff

f

f f p

A

f f p

f f mf

ff

f mf

unis.

Bass Drum

Triangle To Tambourine

(xyl.)

3 3

div. gliss.

arco

12

Picc.

Fl. 1

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 12

Hn. 13

Hn. 24

Tpt.1

Tpt. 23

Tbn. 12

B. Tbn.

Tba.

Timp.

Perc. 1

Perc. 2

Perc. 3

Pno.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mf ffmf ff mp

29

p ff mf ff mp

ff ff mf ff mp

p ff

mf ff ff mf ff mp

ff ff mf ff mp

ff

p ff f ff f

p fff ff f

p f ff mf ff mp

p f ff mf ff mp

ff f ff f

ff f ff f

ff f ff f

mp ff

ff

mp ff f p f p

p ff

f mp fmf f

ff ff mf ff mp

mf ff ff mf ff mp

p ff ff f

ff f

ff mf f

3

(b.d.)

Tambourine

To Triangle Triangle

(xyl.) To Tamb.

3

unis.

13

Picc.

Fl. 1

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 12

Hn. 13

Hn. 24

Tpt.1

Tpt. 23

Tbn. 12

B. Tbn.

Tba.

Perc. 1

Perc. 2

Perc. 3

Pno.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

f mp

34

f mp

f mp

mp p

f mp mp p

f mpp

p pp

pp

mf p

pp

mf p

pp

f mp

f mp

mf

mf

mf

f

mp ppp mp

ppp

mp

p

f mf p ppp

f mf p ppp

mf p mp

mf p

To Vib.

(triangle) To Mar.

Marimba

Tambourine To Xyl.

Xylophone

pizz.

14

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 12

Tba.

Perc. 1

Perc. 2

Pno.

Vln. I

Vla.

mp

B39

mp

mp

mp

pp

mp pp mp pp mp pp

B

mp pp mp pp mp pp

p ppp

Detaché

mp

B

Detaché

mp

1.

Vibraphone

(mar.)

arco

15

Fl. 1

Ob. 1

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 12

Hn. 13

Hn. 24

Tpt.1

Tpt. 23

Tbn. 12

B. Tbn.

Tba.

Timp.

Perc. 1

Perc. 2

Pno.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mp

45

mp

mf f

mp

mf

mf f

mff

mf

mf

mp mf

mf

mp pp mf p mf p

mp pp mp mf

p ppp

mf

mp

Detaché

mp

mp

3 3

con sord.

senza sord.

2.

(vibes)

(mar.)

3 3

16

Picc.

Fl. 1

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 12

Hn. 13

Hn. 24

Tpt.1

Tbn. 12

B. Tbn.

Tba.

Perc. 1

Perc. 2

Pno.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

mp mf cresc. ff

C51

mf

ff

ff

mf ff

mf ff

mf cresc. f ff

ff

mp ff

ff

ff

ff

ff

ff

ff

C

f cresc. ff

cresc. ff

C

cresc. ff

cresc. ff

ff

ff

3 3

3 3

1.

unis.

unis.

To Bass Drum

(mar.) To Triangle

div. unis. div.

17

Picc.

Fl. 1

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 12

Hn. 13

Hn. 24

Tpt.1

Tpt. 23

Tbn. 12

B. Tbn.

Tba.

Timp.

Perc. 1

Perc. 2

Perc. 3

Pno.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

56

ff

ff

ff

f

fff

fff

ff

ff

unis.

Bass Drum

Triangle

(xyl.)

unis. div.

18

Picc.

Fl. 1

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 12

Hn. 13

Hn. 24

Tpt.1

Tpt. 23

Tbn. 12

B. Tbn.

Tba.

Timp.

Perc. 1

Pno.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

fff mf fff mf ff

61

fff mf fff mf ff

fff mf fff mf ff

fff mf fff mf ff

fff mf fff mf ff

fff mf fff mf ff

fff mf fff mf ff

fff fff ff

fff fff ff

fff f fff f fff mf

fff f fff f fff mf

fff

fff

fff

fff ff

ff

fff mf fff mf ff

fff mf fff mf ff

fff mf fff mf ff

fff mf fff mf ff

fffff

fff ff

(b.d.)

unis.

19

Picc.

Fl. 1

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 12

Hn. 13

Hn. 24

Tpt.1

Tpt. 23

Tbn. 12

B. Tbn.

Tba.

Timp.

Perc. 1

Perc. 2

Pno.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

p mf

D66

p mf f mp f mp

p mf f mp

p mf f mp

p mf f mp f mp

p mf f mp f mp

p

pp mf

pp mf

p f mp f mp

p f mp f mp

mf

mf

f mf

mf

D

mf mp

f

mf

p f mp f mp f mp mf

D

p f mp f mp f mp mf

p

mf mf

mf

port. port. port. port.

port. port. port. port.

(b.d.)

(Marimba)

20

Picc.

Fl. 1

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 12

Hn. 13

Hn. 24

Tpt.1

Tpt. 23

Tbn. 12

B. Tbn.

Perc. 1

Perc. 2

Pno.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

mp f mf

71

mp f mf

p f f

p f f

mp f f

mp f

f pp

ppp mp f f

ppp mp f

f

f

mp f

p mp f

f

pp f

pp f

pp f

pp f

f

mf mp f

a2

unis.

gliss. gliss.

(b.d.) To Vib.

(mar.)

gliss. gliss.

pizz.

21

Picc.

Fl. 1

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Cl. 2

Bsn. 12

Hn. 13

Hn. 24

Tpt.1

Tpt. 23

Tbn. 12

B. Tbn.

Tba.

Timp.

Perc. 2

Pno.

Vln. I

Vln. II

Vla.

Vc.

Cb.

f ppp

E76

f pp

pp expressive

f pp

f pp

f pp

f

f

pp

pp mp p

mf f mp

mf f mp

f ppp

f ppp

f p ppp

f pp

f mp p

mp

E

fdim.

ppp

f dim. ppp

f ppp

E

f ppp

f pp

f mp

f mf mp

(mar.)

3

3

arco

3

pizz.

22

Picc.

Ob. 1

Ob. 2

Cl. 1

Bsn. 12

Timp.

Perc. 1

Pno.

Vc.

Cb.

p

81

mp pp

p

p

pp

p

p

p

pp mp

p

3

3

Vibraphone

pizz.

l.v.

23