BRIAN ROBISON

A field guide to North American

car alarms

for flute, clarinet in Bb, percussion, piano, violin, and ’cello

PAGE PROOFS 22 Jan 2007

Instrumentation: Flute Clarinet in Bb Percussion (one player): police whistle glockenspiel suspended cymbal vibraphone bass drum Piano Violin Violoncello A preliminary version of A field guide to North American car alarms was premiered by Boston Musica Viva under the direction of Richard Pittman on 29 September, 2006.

duration: ca. 10 minutes

This work was begun while in residence at Copland House, Cortlandt Manor, New York, as a recipient of the Aaron Copland Award.

Performance notes: Prelude: The order of instrumental entries is determined by the players prior to the performance, preferably at random and without informing the conductor. Therefore, I strongly recommend that the players continually swap roles for each rehearsal of this prelude, rather than settle into a single realization. Because the actual swooping, honking, and chirping figures vary among the different instruments, this score provides only an approximate notation. Precision of pitch and rhythm is subordinate to the achievement of fluid, even offhand delivery of the melodic motives, with unmitigated aggression of timbre. *To insure that all six parts are covered, take six index cards and write on each “Instrument 1,” “Instrument 2,” etc. Prior to the performance, each player draws a card to determine his/her role in the prelude.

VIOLONCELLO

up center stage

PIANO down stage right corner

conductor

down center stage

PERCUSSION down stage

left corner

(audience, orchestra seating)

FLUTE audience left aisle, 2/3 back

CLARINET audience right aisle, 2/3 back

VIOLIN rear aisle,

center

(audience, balcony seating)

Brian Robison:

A field guide to North American car alarms

seating plan for Tsai

A field guide to North American car alarms:Pitch material of the prelude

Flute

Clarinet in Bb

Vibraphone

Piano

Violin

Violoncello

HONKS

SWOOPS

CHIRPS

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

“x for nothing”*

In one (h = 60) Brian Robison

A field guide to North American car alarms

G.P.

© 2006 Brian Robison (BMI)

1 G.P. 7Instrument 1*

* See performance notes

f harsh, grating, obnoxious

5 5 5 5

10 13 G.P.Instr. 1

Instr. 2

5

f harsh, grating, obnoxious

5 5 5

1819

Instr. 1

Instr. 2

Instr. 3

5 5

5 5

f harsh, grating, obnoxious

5 5

2323

Instr. 1

Instr. 2

Instr. 3

Instr. 4

5 5 5

f harsh, grating, obnoxious

5

2626

Instr. 1

Instr. 2

Instr. 3

Instr. 4

Instr. 5

Instr. 6

5 5

5 5 5 5

f harsh, grating, obnoxious

5 5

2929

Instr. 1

Instr. 2

Instr. 3

Instr. 4

Instr. 5

Instr. 6

5 5

5 5 5

f harsh, grating, obnoxious

5 5 5 5

A field guide to North American car alarms2

32

Instr. 1

Instr. 2

Instr. 3

Instr. 4

Instr. 5

Instr. 6

5 5

5

5

35

Instr. 1

Instr. 2

Instr. 3

Instr. 4

Instr. 5

Instr. 6

5

5

5 5

A field guide to North American car alarms3

3737

Instr. 1

Instr. 2

Instr. 3

Instr. 4

Instr. 5

Instr. 6

5

5

5

40

Instr. 1

Instr. 2

Instr. 3

Instr. 4

Instr. 5

Instr. 6

5 5

5 5

5

5

5

5

A field guide to North American car alarms4

42

Instr. 1

Instr. 2

Instr. 3

Instr. 4

Instr. 5

Instr. 6

5

5 5

5 5 5

5 5 5

5 5 5

44 45Instr. 1

Instr. 2

Instr. 3

Instr. 4

Instr. 5

Instr. 6

A field guide to North American car alarms5

46

Instr. 1

Instr. 2

Instr. 3

Instr. 4

Instr. 5

Instr. 6

48

Instr. 1

Instr. 2

Instr. 3

Instr. 4

Instr. 5

Instr. 6

Police whistle(Perc.)

f

fff

A field guide to North American car alarms6

50

50

Same bar, in one (h. = 60)

Same bar, in one (h. = 60)

50

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

p subito

Roll down and back up, approximately a quarter-tone (like a distant, microtonal siren)

pp

p subito

Bend down and back up, approximately a quarter-tone (like a distant, microtonal siren)

pp

ppp

[VIBRAPHONE]

p subito

pp

p subito

pp

p subito

Roll down and back up, approximately a quarter-tone (like a distant, microtonal siren)

pp

p subito

Roll down and back up, approximately a quarter-tone (like a distant, microtonal siren)

pp

55

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

ppp

ppp

ppp

ppp

ppp

A field guide to North American car alarms7

61

64

64

q = 120

q = 120

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

p

p

(hold pedal as long as possiblebefore moving to bass drum)

BASS DRUM (hard sticks)

pcenter

edge

center

una corda

p

p

battuto col legno

arco

p

66 68

68

senza misura

senza misura

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

(p)

sfz

solo

sfz

pp

edge

center

edge

center(p)

edge

(p)

battuto col legno

arco

battuto col legno

arco

(p)

battuto col legno

(p)

A field guide to North American car alarms8

tempo giusto

tempo giusto

70

senza misura

senza misura

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

p

f

sfz

sfz

pmf

pp

3 6 6

center

edge

(p)

arco

b.c.l.

tempo giusto

tempo giusto

73 74

74

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

sfz

sfz

p

ff

sfz

sfz

p

f

3

63 6

center

edge

center

edge

arco

battuto col legno

arco

battuto col legno

A field guide to North American car alarms9

75

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

sfz

sfz

p

ff

sfz

sfz

pmf

3

6

6

center

edge

center

edge

arco

battuto col legno

arco

battuto col legno

senza misura

senza misura

77

tempo giusto

tempo giusto

senza misura

senza misura

tempo giusto

tempo giusto

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

pp

sfz

sfz

pp

p

ff

36

center

edge

arco

battuto

A field guide to North American car alarms10

81

81

81

86

86

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

f

ff

5

[end of solo]

f

VIBRAPHONEmotor on (slow)

f

f

f

f

f

87

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

f

p

3

3

p

3

3

ff

f

5

p

3

3

ff

5

f

p

3

3

ff

5

5

p

3

3

f

p

3

ff

p

3

3

5

A field guide to North American car alarms11

91

91

91

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

ff

f

p

35

p

3

3

f

ff

5

f

p

3

3

3

f

f

3

3

ff

5

p

5

p

3

f

ff

5

f

ff

p

3

3

f

5

94

95

95

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

3

f

ff

5

p

35 3 3

p(match Vn.)

3

f

p

3

f

3

f

3

3

p

p

3

f

p

3

ff

5

p

3

ff

5

5

3

5

A field guide to North American car alarms12

97

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

ff

5

f

p

p

ff

5

3 3 3

p

ff

5

f

p

335

3

p

ff

5

f

p

33 3

f

p

ff

5

3 3

55

p

5

5 5

ff

f

p

5

3 3

f

p

3

ff

ff

5

f

3

3

5

5

101

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

f

p

3

ff

3 3

5

ff

5

f

f

p

5 3

mf

ff

f

33

55

ff

5

f

p

3 35

5

ff

5

f

p

3

3

5

p

ff

5

3

A field guide to North American car alarms13

104

105

105

108

108

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

ff

p

dolce

p

p

5

5

ff

5

ff

p

p

p

ff

5

5

sfz

3

ff

flautando, dolce

p

gliss. 3

p

gliss.

p

3

p

3

5 5

3 3

3

f

ff

flautando, dolce

p

3

p

gliss.3

p

gliss.

p

3

3

3 3 3

109

115

Pno.

pp *

3

pp

3

pp

3

mf

3

f

3

(con Ped.)(pp)

3

3

3

3

3

* match level of multiphonicsin preceding clarinet solo (mm. 70-82)

sfz

sfz

sfz

3

3 3

A field guide to North American car alarms14

116

Pno.

pp

p *

p

(pp)

mf* r.h. just loud enoughto clarify l.h. pitches

sfz

3

mf

sfz

3

121

125

125

Fl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

p

arco

p

3

pp

3

pp

3

mf

3

3

ff

(pp)

3

p

sfz

3

3

3

sfz

3

mf

sfz

3

p

dolce, flautando

gliss.3

3

dolce, flautando

p

3

gliss.

3

A field guide to North American car alarms15

126

129

129

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

p

p

p

ppp (shadowing Pno.)

3

p

f

3

3

p

p

pp poco in rilievo

3

p

3

mf

p

gliss.3

3

p

gliss. 3

3

p

3

3

mf sub.

feroce

3

p

gliss.

3

p

mf sub.

feroce

ppp (shadowing Pno.)

dolce

3 3 33

A field guide to North American car alarms16

131

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

mf

3

pp poco in rilievo

p

ff

3

3 6

(arco)

ppp (shadowing Cl.)

mf

3

p

sfz

3

mf

ppp (shadowing Cl.)

gliss.

gliss.

(wide, measured vibrato)

p

f

6 6 6

p

leggero

p

feroce

mf

3

A field guide to North American car alarms17

135

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

(shadowing Cl.)

pppp

f

6

p mf

pp poco in rilievo

3

3

pmf

6 3 3 6

[arco]

ppp (shadowing Cl.)

3

3

LARGE SUSPENDED CYMBAL

3

p

sfz

3

mf

pp

flautando,legato

ppp (shadowing Cl.)

3

3

ppp

(shadowing Cl.)

p

f

3 36

p

mf

A field guide to North American car alarms18

139

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

(shadowing Cl.)

ppp

mf

pp

3

6

3

p

[bend both notes sharp...

f

...and back to normal]

p

ff

f

33

6

p

arco

[CYMB., arco]

p

3

pp

3

ppp

p

ppp

3

(pp)

3 3 3

3

3

sfz

3 3 3

f

3

(wide, measured vibrato)

p

f

p

pp

flautando

6 6 6 6

3

A field guide to North American car alarms19

141

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

3

mf

pp

3

(f)

3

p

f

3

p

[bend both notes sharp...

f

...and back to normal]

3 3 3

3

3

p

mf

mf

ff

pp

3

ppp

mp

3

p

f

3 33

3 3 3 3

3

p

mf

pp

A field guide to North American car alarms20

144

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

pp

3

(shadowing Cl.)

ppp

p

3

p

3 3 3

pp

3

p

mf

3

p

ff

33 6

VIBRAPHONE

[arco]

pp

3

3

p

[CYMB., arco]

p

mf

f

3

sfz

3

mf

ff

3

pp

3

3

p

ppp

mf

3

6

3

p

mf

p

148

Fl.

Cl.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

pp

ppp

p

33

pp

mf

3

p

mf

333

mf

3

f

p

3

sfz

3

mf

3

pp

pp

p

A field guide to North American car alarms21

153 154

154

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

pp

3

3

pp

3

3

VIBRAPHONEmotor on (slow), soft mallets

p

3

3

3

f

(p)

3

3

3

3

fff

p subito

p

pp

3

3

3

3

p

3

3

3

A field guide to North American car alarms22

157

160

160

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

pp

mp

f

3

pp

mp

5

f

35

3

3

3

pp

mp

3

3

3

3

pp

mp

5

5

5

5

3

3

3

3

3

pp

mp

3

f

3

3

pp

mp

3

3

A field guide to North American car alarms23

161

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

mp

f

G.P.

mp

mp

f

3

35 3

mp

f

G.P.

mp

mp

f

3 3 53

mp

f

3

G.P.

mp

f

3

mp

3

35

mp

f

3

G.P.

mp

f

3

mp

33

5

3

3

3 3

5

mp

f

G.P.

mp

mp

f

5

3

33

mp

f

3

G.P.

mp

f

3

mp

5 3 3

166

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

G.P.

mp

mp

5

G.P.

3

5

G.P.

mp

mp

3

G.P.

3

G.P.

mp

mp

5

f

G.P.

3 5

3

G.P.

mp

mp

3

f

G.P.

33

G.P.

3

3

3

G.P.

mp

mp

G.P.

5

G.P.

mp

mp

f

G.P.

5 3

A field guide to North American car alarms24

170

170

Calm, lyrical

Calm, lyrical

q = 72

q = 72

170

Fl.

Cl.

Vln.

Vc.

ppp

3

ppp

3

solo, molto espressivo

f cantabile

3

f

3

f

5 5 5

3

ppp

con sord.

3

175

178

178

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

3

3

ppp molto sostenuto

VIBRAPHONE motor on, slow

3

ppp molto sostenuto

5

5

3

f

f

55

A field guide to North American car alarms25

180

181

181

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

5

3

(ppp)

f cantabile

f

p

mf

p

33

5

ppp

senza sord.

molto espressivo

mf

p

mf

p

3

f

3 5

184

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

mfp

3

fp

mf

p

mf

p

3

3

5 3

p

3

mf p

mfp

3

f p

3

mf

3

3

5

3

A field guide to North American car alarms26

189 190

190

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

fp

mf

p

3

fp

3

5 3 5 3

p mf

p

f

p

3

mf

3 5 3 3

192

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

3 3

3 3 3

3 3 3

mf p

3

mf p

3

f

3 3 3 3 5

p

3

f p

3

mf p

3 5 3 3 3 3

A field guide to North American car alarms27

195195

197

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

mf ppp

p

5

ppp

mf

ppp

p

3

3 3 3

p

3 3 3

3 3

(ppp)

3 3 3 3

p

5 5 5

199

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

5

5 5 5 5

3 3 3 3

3 3 3

33 3

3 3

molto espressivo

ppp

3

p

3

ppp

3

mp

3

molto espressivo

ppp

3

p

3

ppp

3

mp

3

A field guide to North American car alarms28

202

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

33 3

33

5 55

33

5 55

pp

f

pp

3

3 3 3 3 3 3

pp

f

pp

3

3 3 3 3 3 3

205

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

5 5

3 3 3

3

3 33

3

5 55

3

mf

3

3

3

f

p

33

3

mf

3

3

3

f

p

33

A field guide to North American car alarms29

208

211

211

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

5 3 3 3 3

ppp

5 55

5

3 3 33 3 3 3

5

mf

3

con sord.

ppp

legato

3 3

mf

3

solo, quasi recitativo

f

3 3 3

212

Fl.

Cl.

Vln.

Vc.

ppp

mf

mp

3 5 3 53

5

A field guide to North American car alarms30

217

219

219

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

mf

5 3

p

p

3

5 5

mf

mf

3

3

5

5

5

5

p

5

3

5

3

senza sord.

p

5 3

p

Tempo giusto

p

p

3

5

3 5

5

222

222

222

Fl.

Cl.

Vc.

ppp

3

3 3 3 3 3 3

3

ppp

Freely, quasi recitativo

mf

mp

mp

3 5 3 5

A field guide to North American car alarms31

225

Fl.

Cl.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

3

3

3

3

ppp

5

ppp

3

p

p

3 5 3

228

228

q = 120

q = 120

228

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

ff

p

ff

mf

ff

mf

33

3

ff

ppp

cresc. pochiss. a pochiss.

3

3

3 3 3

GLOCKENSPIELdead strokes

ff

mf

p ff

l.v.

mf

[dead strokes]

3

ff

ppp

cresc. pochiss. a pochiss.

ff

ppp

3

cresc. pochiss. a pochiss.

3

3

3 3 3

ff

ppp

cresc. pochiss. a pochiss.

A field guide to North American car alarms32

231

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

ff

mf

3

3

3

3 3

3

(pp)

5

5

5 5 5

ff

[l.v.]

mf

p

3

3

(pp)

3

3

(pp)

3 3

(pp)

233

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

ff

mf

3

mf

3

ff

3

3

3 3 3

5

5

5

5

5 5 5

ff

mf

3

3

3

3

3 3 3 3

3

3

3

3 3 3

A field guide to North American car alarms33

235

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

mf

5

ff

mf

5

3

3

(p)

ff

mf

3

3

p

3 3 33

6

(p)

5

5

5 5 5 5 5 5

(p)

(p)

3

3

3

3 3 3 3 3

237

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

3

3

ff

mf

3

3

3

(mp)

(mf)

ff

3

mf

ff

mf

5 5 5 53

3

(mp)

5

5

(mf)

5

5 5 5 5

(mp)

(mf)

5

5 5 5

(mp)

(mf)

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

A field guide to North American car alarms34

239

240

240

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

ff

3

f

3

6

f

3 3 3 3

3

f

f

5 5 5 5

f

3 3 3 3 3

241

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

mf

3

ff

f

3

ff

f

3

33

3

3

3

3

3 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

A field guide to North American car alarms35

243

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

ff

ff

f

3

3

6

3

3 3 3

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6

245

245

245

248

248

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

ff

[solo]

mf

3

ff

mf

5

3

3

(f) crescendo

ff

p

l.v.

f

HI-HAT

p

f

p

l.h.

p

r.h.

(p)

3

(f) crescendo

ff

pizz.

p

(f) crescendo

ff

pizz.

p

3

A field guide to North American car alarms36

250

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

ff

mf

3

3

f

flzg.

mf

f

5

3 3 3

3

ff

p

ff

p

ff

p

3

3

3

3

3

254

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

mf

f

mf

ff

mf

3 5

f

p

f

p

A field guide to North American car alarms37

258

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

f

flzg.

mf

f

mf

3

3

f

p

f

p

3

3

33

262

262

262

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

ff

3

ppp crescendo poco a poco

cresc.

f

ppp

arco sul pont.

ppp

cresc.

arco sul pont.

ppp

cresc.

A field guide to North American car alarms38

266

266

266

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

fff

fff

5

5

fff

fff

5

3 3

fff

5

fff

fff

5

fff

3

3

5

GLOCKENSPIEL

fff

fff

6:06

fff

3

5

3

fff

loco

fff

5

fff

3

3

5

fff

(sul pont.)

fff

3

fff

35

fff

(sul pont.)

fff

5

3 3

268

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

fff

3

fff

fff

5

53

3

5

fff

fff

3

5

fff

fff

fff

fff

5

3

fff

fff

fff

3

3

3

fff

3

fff

5

3

fff

fff

3 3 3

A field guide to North American car alarms39

270

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

ff

5

ff

3 3 3

3

ff

ff

3

3

ff

ff

ff

3

ff

ff

5

5

3

3

3

fff

3

ff

ff

5

3

5

fff

ff

ff

3

272 273

273

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

3

ff

f

3

5 3

ff

ff

5

f

f

3

5

3

ff

f

5 5

3

ff

f

5

ff

3

3

3

ff

f

3

3

3

ff

f

3 3

A field guide to North American car alarms40

274

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

f

f

3

mf

mp

35

5

3

3

3

mf

mf

3

mp

3

5 53

f

mf

mp

3 3

f

f

mf

mf

5 5

f

mp

3

3

3

3

f

mf

3

mp

5

5

3 3

f

mf

mf

5

3 3 3

277

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

mp

5

p

p

3

35

5

3 3

mp

3

p

pp

3 3 5

mp

3

p

5

3 5

mp

pp

p

3

3

3

3

p

pp

5

35

mp

p

3

3

pp

pp

3

A field guide to North American car alarms41

280

Fl.

Cl.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

ppp

5

5

5

ppp

3

(ppp)

3

ppp

3

3

3

ppp

3

5

ppp

3

55 3 3 5

282

Fl.

Cl.

Pno.

Vc.

(ppp)

5

ppp

5

(ppp)

A field guide to North American car alarms42

284

284

284 290

290

Perc.

Pno.

Vc.

p

VIBRAPHONEmotor off

p

mp

mf

f

ff

(modo ordinario)

p

mp

mf

f

291295

295

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

p

mp

mf

f

ff

mp

mf

f

ff

ff

(modo ordinario)

p

ff

ff

A field guide to North American car alarms43

296

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

p

ff

ff

ff

ff

ff

p

mp

mf

f

ff

ff

300

Fl.

Cl.

Perc.

Pno.

Vln.

Vc.

ff

sffz

sffz

sffz

ff

sffz

ff

sffz

sffz

A field guide to North American car alarms44