Captions (2017)
Percussion Requirements:
Vibraphone and Glock (stacked), 3 Finger Cyms (or Triangles), Sus Cym, Whirly Tube, Thunder Tube, Wind Chimes (porch/garden chimes)
Commissioned by Aaron Ragsdale, "Captions" is a 4-movement work for solo multiple percussion where each movement provides a “sonic caption" to a picture or silent video as interpreted by the performer. There is no set program or expectation from the composer, but rather the performer’s creative responsibility to put a visual to the aural.
In "Captions," the music comes first and a visual is added to enhance the music. While it is certainly acceptable to find existing visual material, it’s desirable for the performer to create the visual themselves (taking pictures, creating video, etc). This way, the images are personal and unique to the performer.
- Video and Performance: Aaron Ragsdale
- An excerpt of the fourth movement of Gene Koshinski's "Captions" for solo percussion. This movement is scored for stacked vibraphone and glockenspiel along with suspended cymbal. It was a long winter in South Dakota and the visualization for this movement was part of my attempt to come to terms with it.
- Video and Performance: Aaron Ragsdale