Prometheus (1975)

Timpani Cadenza

Percussion Symphony (1997)

Timpani Cadenza

Prometheus Timpani Cadenza – Compositional Devices

1. Rhythmic Acceleration (numeration)2. Rolled Glissandi3. Struck Glissandi

Percussion Symphony Timpani Cadenza – Compositional Devices

1. Swing Rhythms2. Syncopation 3. Moto Perpetuo4. Hemiola Figures5. Infinities Tone Row

Infinities Tone Row

“Take all available resources – form, style, voices, instruments, timbre, rhythm, techniques, etc. – with which composers can experiment indefinitely, - then – unify all of these elements by anchoring them to a single tone-row. This row I call my Infinities Row.”

- Kupferman, Meyer. Infinities, unpublished essay.

Pitch Class Set - [7, 5, 8, 11, 10, 2]Normal Form - [5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 2]Prime Form - [0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 9]

Pitch Class Set - [6, 4, 0, 3, 9, 1]Normal Form - [0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 9]Prime Form - [0, 1, 3, 4, 6, 9]

Infinities Tone Row - Prometheus

Infinities Tone Row – Sound Phantoms #5

Infinities Tone Row – Wings of the Highest Tower

Infinities Tone Row - Percussion Symphony

Infinities Tone Row – The Stone Tears of Ixtaccihuatl

SERIAL INFLUENCE

Variations for Solo Kettledrumsby Jan Williams

Theme (Tetrachord 1 and its retrograde):

Variation 1 (Inversion of Tetrachord 1 and its retrograde):

Variation 2 (Tetrachord 2 and its retrograde):

Variation 3 (Inversion of Tetrachord 2 and its retrograde):

Variation 4 (Tetrachord 3 and its retrograde):

Variation 5 (Inversion of Tetrachord 3 and its retrograde):

PROGRAMMATIC CONTENT

Program

Near Popocatépetl there is a defunct, flattened and eroded volcanic mountain, covered with snow. Iztaccihuatl, or "Recumbant Woman" (17,455 feet). Legend has it that Pocatépetl [sic] was in love with Iztaccihuatl. He went off to a long-lasting war and when he came back, he found that his beloved had died of sorrow. He laid her out on top of a mountain to which he gave her name, covered her with a shroud of white snow, and watched over her with a lighted torch. Eventually he died, but the torch (the smoke holes) is still burning.

- Meyer Kupferman, The Stone Tears of Ixtaccihuatl Program Note

VIRTUOSITY

Free Rhythmic Figure Movement 1 Golden Section

GESTALT FORM

Features of Meyer Kupferman’s Timpani Compositions

1. Virtuosity2. Depth of programmatic content3. Two types of Glissandi: Rolled and Struck4. Frequently used rhythms – syncopated figure and

swing rhythms5. Rhythmic acceleration6. Moto perpetuo feel7. Hemiola8. Influence of the Infinities Tone Row