(b. 1975)
Oscar Bettison's works explore the boundaries of pitch and noise, classical and rock, convention and invention. He writes for existing instruments with creative and re-imagined roles, as well as "Cinderella" instruments (invented instruments made from found materials). Many of Bettison's works involve electro-acoustic elements and has an unconventional lyricism and a menacing beauty. Recent commissions include Los Angeles Philharmonic, MusikFabrik, So Percussion, Ensemble Klang, Bang on a Can All Stars, London Sinfonietta, Rolf Hind, Roundhouse (London), Tonlagen Festival (Dresden, Germany), and the BBC * Composition Faculty at Peabody Institute since 2009.
Oscar Bettison Composition Timpani and Percussion Requirements
Alternator
No Timpani + 1 percussion
Glockenspiel, pillow, vibraphone, large sistrum, gong, 3 wine bottles, lion's roar, almglocken, 2 large wooden planks
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Animate Objects
No Timpani + 2 percussion + random desk bells + Toy Piano
1) thunder sheet, marimba, gongs C#4, F4, pedal bass drum, metal pipe, 4 Chinese opera gongs (pitch up), Desk Bell in B, 2) vibraphone, thunder sheet, large bell plate, Thai gongs Gb3, G3, Ab3, B3, D4, pedal bass drum, metal pipe, almglocken G4, B4, C5, C#5
Desk bells - flute F#4, oboe A4, clarinet Eb4, bassoon Ab4, horn Bb4, trombone D4, tuba C4, percussion 1 B4, percussion 2 C#4, keyboard F4 & E4, guitar G4
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An Automated Sunrise (for Joseph Cornell)
No Timpani + 1 percussion + Toy Piano
Glockenspiel, kalimba (notes F#4, G#4, C5, D#5), C4 (low oct) crotale (scraped), Ab4, Bb4 (low oct) crotales (bowed), bass bow, almglocken F3, G3, A3, B3, Eb4, F4, A4, B4, C5, D5, guiro, Thai gongs F3, G3, A3, B3, nightingale call, toy piano
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Gauze Vespers
No Timpani + 1 percussion
Vibraphone, 2 metal pipes, (piano) toy piano, (violin) pencil, small flexatone, (cello) large flexatone
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Lights in Ashes
No Timpani + 4 percussion + celeste
Prayer stones, 3 tubular bells, bucket of water, Thai gong, wrenchophone, vibraphone, orchestral bass drum, 2 metal pipes, ratchet, steel drum, almglocken, Chinese Opera gong, large Thai gong, hammer, 4 Thai gongs, celeste
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Livre des Sauvages
No Timpani + 2 percussion
Spring reco-reco(large), mounted castanets, desk-bells(from C to C), suspended metal springs(med and large), whip, guiro (small), pedal bass drum prepared), 2 ratchets(small, large), 2 ranch triangles, 3 ceramic mugs, tubular bell (Ab), wrenchophone, sandpaper blocks, 5 gongs (G3, Bb3 B3, D4, F4), Chinese clash cymbals, conch shell, almglocken (F#3 to C#5), orchestral hammer, 2 tuning forks, 4 wine bottles of different sizes, flexatone, hi hat
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O Death
No Timpani + 1 percussion
Vibraphone (prepared), ship's bell in C, brake drum, Chinese opera gong (pitch up), two small gongs (flat), 6" roto tom, orchestral bass drum, glockenspiel, Bb tubular bell, ruthe, large temple bowl (filled with water), 3 metal mixing bowls, metal container with bass drum pedal, reco reco, wrenchophone, hammer, 3 clay pots, harmonica in C, large ratchet, 4 anvils
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ppopp
No Timpani + 1 percussion + 2 Kazoos
Lion's roar, large sheet of paper, 2 car horns, 3 Chinese opera gongs (1 pitch down, 2 pitch up), chain, 2 ratchets, megaphone
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Sea Shaped
No Timpani + 3 percussion
1) almglocken Eb5, C5, Ab4, Eb4, glockenspiel, harmonica (differing tuning to player 3), large orchestral bass drum, 2 Chinese opera gongs, large tam tam, 2 triangles (differing pitch to player 2 & 3), 2) vibraphone, 2 bass bows, 4 small wrenches, 2 triangles. (differing pitches to player 1 & 3), 3) tubular bells, harmonica (differing tuning to player 1), sandpaper blocks, A3 mounted gong, 2 triangles (differing pitch to player 1 & 2)
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Take Leave of Carnal Vain Delight
No Timpani + 1 percussion + harmonica
Vibraphone (prepared), ruthe, 3 metal mixing bowls, brake drum, metal container with bass drum pedal, orchestral bass drum, spring reco reco
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The Accordion Desert
No Timpani + 2 percussion
1) Chinese cymbal, 2 octaves crotales, vibraphone, gong, small suspended cymbals, 2 gongs, flexatone, 4 ranch triangles, scrap metal, steel drum, 2 bass bows, 2 ping-pong balls; 2) Chinese cymbal, 2 octaves crotales, vibraphone, gong, tam tam, 2 gongs, flexatone, Chinese wood drum, sistrum, steel drum, 2 bass bows, 2 ping-pong balls
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