Description
NB - PDF Delivery Only
Audio with optional Piano
Program Notes
Due to its opportunistic scavenging habits and prolific numbers in and around urban parks, rubbish dumps (tips), garbage bins, cafes, and restaurants; the Australian White Ibis is locally known as the 'tip turkey', the 'dumpster diver'; or, most commonly: the 'bin chicken'!
The idea for Bin Chicken Ballet presented itself sitting in a restaurant outdoor area as the patrons having lunch were unwittingly entertained by two pairs of these 'un-pretty' bald-black-scaly headed, beady-eyed, dirty white feathered, duck-sized birds with elongated bony black-skinned legs performing what seemed to be an ungainly (and rather raucous) courting dance of sorts - the rear of each pair squawking at and pecking at the other in tandem as both pairs performed a circuitous ritual around the paved street in front of the restaurant in the middle of Sydney's Kings Cross.
Performance Notes
A fun and quirky ballet-style waltz, Bin Chicken Ballet was originally written for novice wind ensemble and has been orchestrated for string orchestra with optional piano by the composer; really capturing the essence of the original idea for this setting. Achievable by novice to intermediate+ ensemble of any age, Bin Chicken Ballet is full of catchy melodies and unexpected moments that will capture the imagination of audiences – especially those familiar with the ubiquitous Australian bird. Simple rhythms and limited ranges will help players focus on developing articulation style and accuracy, rhythmic and melodic independence, ensemble balance, and dynamic contrast. Accessible chromaticism is introduced and reinforced throughout, and cello players get to slide to and from notes on purpose!
Violin, Viola, and Cello parts have divisi sections, the Viola part can be replaced or augmented by the Violin III part, and the String Bass can be replaced or augmented by the Cello II part. The left hand of the optional piano part also covers the String Bass part, and the right hand adds melodic support and interest where some of the mallet percussion feature in the band version; however, the piano part is completely optional, and this orchestration has been designed as a stand-alone work for strings.
The dashed slurs are optional and can be performed legato instead. Bin Chicken Ballet can also be performed a little slower or faster than marked; however, do accel. as much as possible at the end as the awkward avian quartet wind up their giddy display and noisily lope off into the city streets!
Duration 3:00 min
Instrumentation
Violin I, Violin II, Violin III (Viola part), Viola, Cello I, Cello II (String Bass part), String Bass
Optional piano