No. 36

The fourth a series of NONcerti was commissioned by the Fund for the Creation of Music for the hornist of the ASKO Ensemble, Wim Timmermans. The piece is comprised of three movements, each with a theatrical element.

Staging required for No.36
The ensemble sits centre stage for the entire piece.

Movement One
In this movement the Horn Soloist plays a game of "call and echo" - calling from one mountain top, and playing the echo or answering phrase from the opposing peak.
Two raised podia, approximately 1 meter high, are to be situated either side of the stage and behind the ensemble. Each podium must be fitted with a ramp to allow the soloist to easily run to the top. The Letters L and R indicate on which side of the stage the Horn player must be standing (L = Stage Left, and R = Stage Right). The instruction RUN indicates that the soloist should run from one podium top to the other before playing the next phrase.

Movement Two
The soloist should stand at behind, or slightly separated from, the ensemble (not in the traditional soloists position). During the sections marked DOORS CLOSED the horn player should be somehow concealed from public view, this could be behind a door or curtain which should be drawn back revealing the soloist during the sections marked DOORS OPEN.

Movement Three
This movement has not only a musical narrative but also a written description of what the music is allegedly depicting. The titles may be projected (in turn and on cue) on a screen hanging behind the ensemble, or large boards displaying, in turn, the numbers one to eleven should be shown to the audience at specified points in the piece (marked by numbers at the top of the score). These numbers correspond to the following numbered descriptions or headings:

1) Anna Filipiova has disappeared
2) A cloud machine casts shadows across the landscape
3) Anna Filipiova sees her mother and old friends in the distance
4) Anna Filipiova is joined by her grandmother
5) They all move slowly towards a bright light
6) As they approach Anna Filipiova feels warmth on her face
7) They all stop and drink tea
8) They dance gaily
9) One by one her friends take their leave
10) Anna Filipiova feels peaceful, her surroundings slowly begin to fade away.....
11) ....and gently disappear

The audience must be provided with this list, either projected behind the ensemble, printed in the programme book or on a small, separate sheet of paper. They should be able to simultaneously listen to the music, and read the corresponing written text as each number is displayed.