Encounters IV
General Info
Year: 1972
Duration: c. 15:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: NM-West
Cost: Score and Parts - $0.00 | Score Only - $0.00
Movements
I. Strategy
II. Truce of God
III. Tactic
Instrumentation
Multiple Percussion: vibraphone, timpani(4), tenor drum, timbales, bongos, crotales (upper oct.), steel bowls(11), tuned gongs(9), tam tams(4), galvanized trash can cover
Program Notes
Patterned after it’s predecessor Encounters IV: Duel for Trumpet and Percussion, Encounters IV is based on medieval warfare. The first movement “Strategy” (the manner in which one engages the enemy) is made of a series of attacks and counter-attacks, the trombone being the aggressor, the percussion responding from a fixed position – as did defenders in the middle ages. The opening has the trombone approaching and spelling out in Morse Code an idea rather popular during the Second World War, “Make war to make peace” – While the defending percussionist strengthens his position with a growing ostinato. Then there are 12 attacks and counter-attacks which may be performed in different ways: 1) In order from 1 through 12; 2) In an order predetermined by the performers; 3) In random order, in which the percussionist must immediately recognize the attack and respond accordingly. In this latter case provisions must be made for those interlocking attacks and counter-attacks which are simultaneous.
The second movement is the most explicit commentary in the piece. It is titled “Truce of God” after the medieval convention supervised by the Pope wherein fighting was suspended from Thursday sundown to Monday sunrise. The ineffectuality of this convention against man’s evidently stronger predilection for combat is represented by a variation which distorts the conductus “Beata Viscera” by the 13th century composer Perotin, accompanied by interspersed bell sounds of gongs, vibraphone and stainless steel bowls, along with various other comments from the percussion.
The third movement, “Tactics” (the way in which the battle is fought) is “all out war” with the combatants lock in virtuosic battle climaxing in the defeat and retreat of the trombone who spells out in Morse Code “PEACE” as he departs. – William Kraft
premiere: 1973, Tucson, Arizona, Thomas Ervin(trombone), Karen Ervin(percussion) - (tape collage by William Malloch)
Errata
Awards
Commercial Discography
Recent Performances
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Works for Percussion by this Composer
Solos
2-4-1 - Snare Drum
A Trifle for Timothy - Multiple Percussion
Corrente II - Multiple Percussion
Da Dit - Multiple Percussion
Des Imagistes - Percussion Sextet; Narrator
Divinations - Multiple Percussion
English Suite - Multiple Percussion
French Suite - Multiple Percussion
Images - Timpani
L'Arlesienne - Multiple Percussion
Morris Dance - Multiple Percussion
M'SP - Timpani
Passacaglia - Percussion Solo
Theme and Metric Variations - Multiple Percussion
Two Drums in the Shape of an Etude - Multiple Percussion
Variations for King George - Timpani
Percussion Solos with Orchestra
Concerto for Solo Percussion and Chamber Ensemble - Multiple Percussion; Orchestra
Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra (Kraft) - Timpani; Orchestra
Concerto No. 2 for Timpani and Orchestra, XIII The Grand Encounter - Timpani; Orchestra
Three Miniatures for Percussion and Orchestra - Solo - Multiple Percussion; Orchestra
Triangles: Concerto for Percussion and Ten Instruments - Multiple Percussion; Chamber Ensemble
Percussion Solos with Strings
Music for String Quartet and Percussion - Multiple Percussion; String Quartet
Percussion Ensembles
Colorations - Variable Instrumentation; Graphic Score
Kandinsky Variations - Variable Instrumentation; graphic score
Quartet for Percussion (Kraft) - Percussion Quartet
Scherzo á Due - Multiple Percussion Duet
Suite for Percussion - Percussion Quartet
Trio for Percussion (Kraft) - Percussion Trio
Percussion Ensembles with Orchestra
Concerto for Four Percussion Soloists & Orchestra - Percussion Quartet; Orchestra
Configurations - Concerto for Four Percussion Soloists & Jazz Orchestra - Percussion Quartet; Jazz Orchestra
Momentum for Eight Percussionists - Percussion Ensemble (8)
Three Miniatures for Percussion and Orchestra - Percussion Quartet; Orchestra
Percussion Ensemble with Concert Band
Quintessence: Concerto for Five Percussion Soloists and Concert Band - Percussion Quintet; Concert Band
Percussion Ensemble with Voice
Songs of Flowers, Bells and Death: Contextures IV for Chorus and Percussion Orchestra - Percussion Ensemble (12); Chorus
Theme and Variations (Kraft) - Percussion Quartet; Narrator (optional)
Encounter Series
Encounters I - Multiple Percussion; with tape
Encounters II - Tuba
Encounters III - Multiple Percussion; Trumpet
Encounters IV - Multiple Percussion; Trombone
Encounters V: In the Morning of the Winter Sea - Multiple Percussion; Cello
Encounters VI - A Concertino for Roto-toms and Percussion Quartet - Percussion Quartet; Multiple Percussion
Encounters VII - Multiple Percussion Duet
Encounters VIII - Multiple Percussion
Encounters IX - Multiple Percussion; Saxophone
Encounters X - Marimba; Violin
Encounters XI: The Demise of Suriyodhaya - Multiple Percussion; English Horn
Encounters XII: The Gabrielic Foray - Multiple Percussion; Harp
Encounters XIII - Multiple Percussion; Woodwind Quintet
Encounters XIV: Concerto a Tre - Multiple Percussion, Violin, Piano
Encounters XV - Multiple Percussion, Guitar
Encounters XVI - Multiple Percussion, Flute
Encounters XVII - Multiple Percussion, Clarinet
Additional Resources
References