Work
Old MacDonald's yellow submarine : for toy piano, prepared piano and assorted bits
by Erik Griswold (2004)
Audio Sample
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Performance by Margaret Leng Tan from the CD Works by Erik Griswold, Diana Blom, Mark Isaacs, Anthony Moles, Ros Bandt [and] Judy Bailey |
Selected products featuring this work — Display all products (2 more)
Display all products featuring this work (2 more)
Work Overview
Old MacDonald's Yellow Submarine is an
exploration of sounds with which I've been fascinated since
childhood. Its varied sections range from nostalgic and wistful
to playful and cheeky, drawing on influences as diverse as John
Cage and John Lee Hooker.
Old Mac comprises six movements - On that farm,
e-i-e-i-o, Pink Memories, Chooks! (Australian for "chickens"),
Bicycle Lee Hooker, and Old MacDonald's Yellow Submarine - each
using a different combination of instruments, including prepared
piano, toy piano, wood blocks, and miniature music boxes. Knowing
the skill and dedication of Margaret Leng Tan, I pushed the
limits of toy instrumental virtuosity by asking her to coordinate
a bicycle bell, bicycle horn, train whistle, and toy piano in
Bicycle Lee Hooker, a right brain-left brain
extravaganza.
I arrived at the title of the suite, a
conjunction of Old MacDonald had a farm and Yellow Submarine,
when I took the tines (or melody) of one music box and crossed
them with the barrel (or rhythm) of another to produce the
surprising hybrids heard in the sixth movement. (The third
movement similarly combines the pitches of The Pink Panther with
the rhythm of Memories).
Work Details
Year: 2004
Instrumentation: Soloist playing prepared piano, toy piano and percussion.
Duration: 16 min.
Difficulty: Advanced
Contents note: On that farm - E-i-e-i-o -- Pink memories -- Chooks! -- Bicycle Lee Hooker -- Old Macdonald's yellow submarine.
Dedication note: Dedicated to Margaret Leng Tan
Commission note: Commissioned for Margaret Leng Tan with funds provided by Australia Council. Music Board.
First performance: by Margaret Leng Tan — 13 Mar 15. San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
Selected as one of the 'Recommended Works' at the 2010 International Rostrum of Composers forum held in Lisbon.
Awards & Prizes
Year | Award | Placing | Awarded for/to |
---|---|---|---|
2010 | International Rostrum of Composers | Rcommended work | Erik Griswold for performance on 15 Aug 09 |
Performances of this work
31 Aug 2019: at Extended Play (City Recital Hall). Featuring Margaret Leng Tan.
13 Mar 15: San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. Featuring Margaret Leng Tan.
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