Piece of Cake
for 5 to 32 instrumentalists (1992-2008)
2 minutes | no.8
This two minute titbit is in fact a birthday cake, cut into thirty-two parts, of which at least five must be served at the same event. All parts were presented at birthday occasions, such as for Brian Ferneyhough, my teacher in composition, for John Cage, my spiritual master, and for Aldo Clementi, my guide to reaching pure simplicity. The parts were made for various ensembles, among which Percussion Group The Hague, the Ives Ensemble, and the Nieuw Ensemble.
Scoring
Any selection of 5 parts or more (all unconducted) from the complete set:
piccolo, alto flute, bass flute, oboe, English horn
E-flat clarinet, B-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon
trumpet, trombone 1, trombone 2, trombone 3
percussion 1 (crotales)
percussion 2 (tubular bells)
percussion
3 (vibraphone)
percussion
4 (Thai gongs)
percussion
5 (timpani I)
percussion
6 (timpani II),
harp, piano 1, piano 2,
violin 1, 2, 3, viola 1, 2, 3, cello 1, 2, 3, double bass
Commissioned by
Percussion Group The Hague, Nieuw Ensemble,
Ives Ensemble, Festival Pontino (Sermoneta),
Ensemble A Piacere
Première
19 June 1992
Dr. Anton Philipszaal, The Hague (Netherlands)
Percussion Group The Hague
