No. 24

Music as theatre, but not theatre music. This is a possible description of NONcerto, for alto trombone and ensemble. Ayres has a number of NONcertos among his compositions, pieces that expose the possibilities and especially the impossibilities of the soloist.
Here it is a solo alto trombonist who noisily scrabbles around for mutes in a cardboard box full of junk (e.g. disposable plates, plastic bags). Assuming he has found the desired mute, he jams it in the bell of his instrument.
At least as curious is the way in which the soloist continually allows his part to fade into silence. The tragedy of it gradually becomes clear: he has no idea where he is or what he should do, let alone what he has to play. The ensemble tries to help him back on course with various musical hints, though in vain.
"Whenever this piece is performed," says Ayres, "the reaction is always the same: the audience laughs at first but very soon the embarrassment of the situation becomes clear. By the time it ends you can cut the tension with a knife."

© Saskia Törnqvist