(b. 1961)
Unsuk Chin was born in 1961 in Seoul, Korea. She began to teach herself piano and music theory at a very early age and subsequently studied composition at the Seoul National University with Sukhi Kang. Chin appeared as pianist at the Pan Music Festivals. In 1984 her composition Gestalten (Figures) was selected for the ISCM World Music Days in Canada and in 1986 for the UNESCO ‘Rostrum of Composers.’ In 1985 Chin won the first prize of the Gaudeamus Stichting with Spektra for three celli. In 1985 she moved to Europe when she received a DAAD grant to study in Germany and until 1988 took composition lessons in Hamburg with György Ligeti who encouraged her to look beyond the aesthetics of the current avant-garde. Since then, Unsuk Chin has lived and worked in Berlin. In 2004 Unsuk Chin won the prestigious Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition for her Violin Concerto.
Unsuk Chin Composition Timpani and Percussion Requirements
Akrostichon-Wortspiel
No Timpani + 1 percussion
Timpani, tam tam, clash cymbals, 2 tom-toms, tambourine on a stand, guiro, antique cymbals, triangle, mouth harmonica, glockenspiel, vibraphone, snare drum, small triangle, marimba, xylophone
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Alice in Wonderland (opera)
Timpani + 4 percussion + 4 percussion offstage + celeste
Glockenspiel, marimbaphone, 5octave marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, vibraslap, tuned cowbells C4-C6, 4 triangles, 8 suspended cymbals (3 small, 3 medium ,2 large), 3 tam-tam (sm,med,lg), sand paper blocks, 3 tom toms, 3 tambourines, 3 pairs maracas, 4 referees whistles, nightingale effect, 5 high temple bells, guiro, 1 wine glass, 2 high metal blocks, castanets, alarm clock, 6 snare drums, 2octaves crotales, bell plates A,E,F, 4 chromonica(Bb,C,D,E), finger cymbals, 3 sistrums, 2 suspended cymbals, orchestral bass drum, 8 bottles, small ratchet, 3 whips, wood wind chimes, bell tree, metal grates x 2, Thai gongs Bb2,C3, siren, flexatone, wind machine, anvil effect, timbales, bamboo shaker, 2 trash tins, 20 tuned wine glasses, 15 forks, 15 spoons, small metal pots x 5, 3 metal rattles, auto-horn, tubular bells, 2 low pitch bass bells, 2 thunder sheets (sm,lg), 2 pairs bongos, swanee whistle, glass wind chimes, lions roar, celeste. Offstage: clash cymbals, piccolo snare drum, trash tin, 3 metal pots, thunder sheet
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Cello Concerto
Timpani + 4 percussion + celeste
3 suspended cymbals, 2 guiros, 4 high metal blocks, 10 bottles, 5 snare drums, 3 tom toms, 9 triangles, orchestral bass drum, claves, 2 octaves crotales, glockenspiel, maracas, marimba, gong, sand box/ and sand effect, sand paper, chocola, tambourine, tam tam, 5 temple bells, tenor drum, thunder sheet, tubular bells, vibraphone, whip, xylophone, celeste
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Chorós Chordón
Timpani + 4 percussion + celeste
1) suspended cymbal, bass bow, glockenspiel, small triangle, tambourine, 2 tam tam x 2
2) silk paper, 2 octaves crotales, bass bow, suspended cymbal, splash cymbal, orchestral bass drum, large tam tam, small snare drum
3) xylophone, silk paper, splash cymbal, small suspended cymbal, vibraphone, tenor drum, bass bow
4) silk paper, marimba, vibraphone, 3 triangle (small, medium, large), 5 octave marimba, splash cymbal, suspended cymbal small, suspended cymbal medium, suspended cymbal large, tubular bells, sandbox (fine), bass bow
Celeste
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Clarinet Concerto
Timpani + 4 percussion + celeste
Vibraphone, marimba, 2 octaves crotales, glockenspiel, xylophone, orchestral bass drum, tubular bells, triangle, suspended cymbal x 4, tam tam x 3, harmonica x 2, small clash cymbals, 2 spring coils, flexatone, snare drum x 3, tom tom x 4, bell tree, washboard, Bb wine glass, fishing reel x 2, vibraslap, guiro, mark tree, maracas, metal ratchet, temple blocks, tambourine, tenor drum, thundersheet, 5 Javanese gongs, bongos, glass wind chimes - celeste
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Cosmigimmicks
1 Percussion
Fine and medium sandpaper, vibraphone, cencerros F3 - F6, small cymbal
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Die Troerinnen
No Timpani + 2 percussion + celeste
1) vibraphone, clash cymbals, antique cymbals, glockenspiel, marimba, tambourine, triangle, tubular bells 2) timpani, gong, xylophone, snare drum, tom tom, triangle, celeste
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Double Concerto
No Timpani + 1 percussion + Solo Percussion
1) glockenspiel, lithophone, antique cymbals, 5 Javanese gongs, bottlephone, 4 metal blocks, hand bells, triangle, 3 clash cymbals, 3 tam tams, 2 timbales, tambourine, snare drum, orchestral bass drum, 2 temple blocks, claves
Solo Percussion
Vibraphone, xylophone, marimba, 6 cowbells, tubular bells, Japanese temple bells, handbells, tenor drum, 3 tom toms, timpani
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Fantaisie mécanique
No Timpani + 2 percussion
1) tambourine, 2 timbales, 3 tom toms, tenor drum, orchestral bass drum, 3 timpani, vibraphone, xylophone, tubular bells, large triangle, 3 suspended cymbals, 2 tam tams, (large and small), thundersheet large 2) tambourine small, 2 bongos, 3 small drums, tenor drum,, orchestral bass drum, 3 timpani, glass chimes, Steinspiel, 2 triangle (small and medium) 3 suspended cymbals, tam tam medium, thundersheet medium, glockenspiel, marimba
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Gougalon
No Timpani + 2 percussion
Xylophone, vibraphone, 5 octave marimba, tuned cowbells, 6 small ceramic bowls, suspended cymbal, Japanese temple bowl x 2, 8 tin cans, 8 glass bottles, 6 metal blocks, medium flexatone, small flexatone, finger cymbals, Chinese opera gongs x 2, very small tambourine, bongos, 3 congas, timbales, roto tom, medium tom tom, small tom tom, snare drum x 3, tenor drum, orchestral bass drum, maracas, bunch of twigs (possibly ruthe), mark tree, bamboo chimes, vibraslap, bell tree, metal ratchet, guiro, thunder sheet, leather whip, leather belt, 2 timpani (with large suspended cymbals) C2-Bb2 and G#2-F#3
Flute doubling metal block, 3 triangles, harmonica, maracas, vibraslap
Oboe doubling small tambourine, 3 triangles, harmonica, ratchet
Clarinet doubling sistrum, finger cymbals, harmonica, flexatone
Trumpet doubling sandbox, maracas
Trombone doubling maracas, small Chinese opera gong, harmonica, metal ratchet
Double bass doubling crotales (Bb6 & E7)
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Graffiti
No Timpani + 3 percussion + celeste
1) vibraphone (shared with P3), tubular bells, snare drum piccolo, snare drum medium, suspended cymbal small, glockenspiel, mark tree, small triangle, timpani, tambourine, medium triangle, harmonica
2) xylophone, flexatone, clash cymbals, 2 octaves crotales. triangles x 3, Thai gongs B1, C#2, D2, A2, Eb3, A#3, B#3, C4, Fb4, Fnat4 / C4, C#4, D4, E4, G4, snare drum piccolo, snare drum medium, snare drum deep, 2 glass bottles, whip
3) vibraphone (shared with P1), tuned cowbells, marimba, deep snare drum, orchestral bass drum, temple blocks. 3 tom toms, triangles x 2, suspended cymbals x 3, thunder sheet, small tam tam
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Kalá
No Timpani + 7 percussion + celeste + harmonium
Glockenspiel, vibraphone, xylophone, marimba, antique cymbals, tubular bells, 6 cowbells, small triangle, 4 suspended cymbals, 4 tam tams, 3 thundersheets, Javanese gongs, small tambourine, 3 snare drums, 2 timpani, orchestral bass drum, sistrum, glass chimes, sleigh bells, 3 temple bowls, guiro, metal ratchet, maracas, temple blocks, celeste, harmonium
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Le Chant des Enfants des Etoiles
Timpani + 5 percussion + celeste
1) tubular bells, small suspended cymbal, large suspended cymbal, glockenspiel, bell tree, maracas, small tambourine, mark tree
2) snare drum small, snare drum medium, snare drum large, suspended cymbal small, suspended cymbal medium, suspended cymbal large, vibraphone, 2 octave crotales (shared with P3), tuned gongs C#2, F#2. Bb2, B2, metal blocks x 4, lithophone
3) small tam tam, medium tam tam, large tam tam, 2 octave crotales (shared with P2), 3 dobachi (21-47cm), sand box, tuned cowbells (shared with P4), small triangle, splash cymbal, piccolo snare drum, medium snare drum, deep snare drum
4) orchestral bass drum, small triangle, small clash cymbals, gong, tuned cowbells (shared with P3), maracas, 5 octave marimba (shared with P5), large tam tam (shared with P3), Thai gong C2, bell plates, F#2, G#2, A#2
5) tubular bells, large suspended cymbal, triangles x 2, mark tree, 5 octave marimba (shared with P4), small snare drum, wood blocks x 4, tom toms x 2, tenor drum, thunder sheet medium, thunder sheet large
Celeste
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Le Silence des Sirènes
Timpani + 5 percussion
1) 2 octaves crotales, xylophone, 4 bongos (pitches), high glass bottle, high temple block, swanee whistle, flexatone, metal rattle, guiro, claves, small suspended cymbal, large suspended cymbal, small triangle, castanets, C#3 bell plate
2) vibraphone (shared with P3), siren whistle, mark tree, small tambourine, snare drum x 3, orchestral bass drum, small triangle, chocalho
3) vibraphone (shared with P2), flexatone, sandbox, maracas, guiro, police whistle, sistrum, sleigh bells, tambourine, thunder sheet (shared with P4), triangle
4) marimba, small suspended cymbal, small tambourine, bell tree, small tam tam, large tam tam, alarm clock, large Japanese temple bell, small triangle, thunder sheet (shared with P3)
5) tubular bells, glockenspiel, small suspended cymbal, medium suspended cymbal, large suspended cymbal, hi hat, siren whistle, vibraslap, whip, small tam tam
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Ma fin est mon commencement Mon commencement est ma fin
No Timpani + 2 percussion
Suspended cymbal, finger cymbals, triangle
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Mannequin
Timpani + 5 percussion + celeste
1) glockenspiel, xylophone, 4 metal blocks, vibraslap, small ratchet, mark tree
2) vibraphone, tambourine, bell tree, piccolo snare drum, deep snare drum, small suspended cymbal, claves, 4 glass bottles, A minor harmonica, B minor harmonica
3) fishing reel, tubular bells, 2 octaves crotales, guiro, tambourine, medium suspended cymbal, small suspended cymbal, flexatone, metal wash board x 2
4) spring coil, flexatone, small suspended cymbal, triangle, 5 octave marimba, thunder sheet large, thunder sheet medium, temple blocks x 2, 4 x cans, splash cymbal, clash cymbals, large tam tam
5) spring coil, large suspended cymbal, medium suspended cymbal, small suspended cymbal, bell plate, large tam tam, small tam tam, guiro, orchestral bass drum, cow bells x 2, hi hat, splash cymbal, clash cymbals, small snare drum, triangle, large thunder sheet, medium thunder sheet, maracas, 5 octave marimba
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Miroirs des temps
Timpani + 6 percussion + celeste + harmonium
Vibraphone, glockenspiel, marimba, 2 triangles, (small & very small), finger cymbal, antique cymbals, 3 suspended cymbals, 3 tam tams, 4 Javanese gongs, 6 cowbel, piccolo snare drum, timpani, orchestral bass drum, tubular bells, bell plates, celeste, harmonium
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Piano Concerto
Timpani + 3 percussion + celeste
Xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, vibraphone, antique cymbals, lithophone, 2 triangles, 2 suspended cymbals, 2 tam tams, maracas, 4 wood blocks, glass wind chimes, 6 cowbells, tubular bells, 2 bell plates, tambourine, 4 bongos, small tom tom, 3 snare drums, tenor drum, timpani, orchestral bass drum, celeste
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Puzzles and Games from Alice in Wonderland
Timpani + 3 percussion + celeste
Harmonica, xylophone, glockenspiel, vibraphone, marimba, 5 octave marimba, 2 octaves crotales, tubular bells, tuned cowbells, small suspended cymbal, medium suspended cymbal, large suspended cymbal, clash cymbals, finer cymbals, orchestral bass drum, pedal bass drum, snare drum x 3, tom tom x 3, timbales, triangle, bell plates, small tam tam, medium tam tam, large tam tam, Javanese gong, tubular bells, tambourine, whip, castanets, maracas, lion's roar, glass wind chimes, bell tree, temple blocks x 2, metal block, 2 metal grills, 2 metal rattles, metal casserole tin x 2, siren, 2 trash cans, 2 glass bottles, wind machine, 2 pea whistles, swanee whistle - celeste
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Rocaná
Timpani + 4 percussion + celeste
2 anvils, orchestral bass drum, 5 octave marimba, cencerros chromatic, 2 octaves crotales, clash cymbals, 3 suspended cymbals, (s/m/l), 2 dobachi, glass chimes, glockenspiel. hi hat, 2 Japanese temple bells, 5 Javanese gongs (pitches: C#2, D2, A2, Bb2, G#3), sleigh bells, lithophone, maracas, marimba, mark tree, 4 metal blocks, sandbox (fine), 3 snare drums, (s,m,l), 3 tam tams, (s,m,l), 2 triangles, (s,m), tubular bells, vibraphone, whip, xylophone, celeste
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snagS&Snarls
No Timpani + 3 percussion + celeste
I) triangle, 2 clash cymbals, (m,l), tam tam large, tuned cowbells, C4-C5, glockenspiel, marimba, 2) tambourine, 3 snare drums, orchestral bass drum, clash cymbals small, finger cymbals, 6 bottles 3) xylophone, harmonic, siren, 2 trash cans, triangle, timbales(sm), glass chimes, 18 wine glasses, 15 forks, 8 spoons, 5 small metal casserole dishes, celeste
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Violin Concerto
Timpani + 5 percussion + celeste
Glockenspiel, 2 vibraphones, xylophone, 2 marimbas, lithophone, antique cymbals, tubular bells, cowbells C4-C6, small triangle, small clash cymbals, 3 suspended cymbals, large thundersheet, metal block, small tambourine, guiro, claves, celeste
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Xi
No Timpani + 2 percussion
Orchestral bass drum, 3 tam tam, 3 suspended cymbals, 2 Javanese gongs, bell plates, small triangle, large thundersheet, guiro, 4 temple blocks, glockenspiel, vibraphone, xylophone, marimba, bass xylophone, lithophone
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Šu
No Timpani + 4 percussion
Tubular bells, vibraphone, bin sasara, bamboo chimes, 2 Javanese gongs, guiro, snare drum, tambourine large, Japanese temple bell large, orchestral bass drum, tam tam large
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