YIN AND YANG

YIN and YANG were commissioned by the Metropole Orchestra. I wrote them between March and May of 2011. My idea was to specifically write for the Metropole Orchestra, featuring their soloists.

As is well known, yin and yang form opposites. I tried to shape YIN in a softer way, with mellow colours from the English horn, alto flutes, clarinets and flugelhorns. Four soloists – the vibraphone, guitar, harp and electric piano – form a constant layer of sound. Waves of sound emerge, announcing each new harmonic section. There are six of them, five of which are in a different Lydian scale. Only once, before the last fading section, do we find a Mixolydian scale and a steady rhythm. The rest of the piece is without a defined pulse, except for small melodic passages.

YANG starts with a sudden rush of notes, similar to the small climaxes in Yin, but then immediately invites three soloists – soprano sax, trumpet and trombone – to improvise with a vivid rhythm section accompanying them. Small, and then growing thematic sections lead first to a soprano sax solo, later to a trumpet solo, and also to a harmonic solo for electric violin. A trumpet fanfare is repeatedly fired off. Yang in general has a strong expression, with high energy and defined rhythmic grooves, but still has melodic elements that keep it pleasant. The end is a long decline of sound clouds, featuring again the underlying four soloists of Yin: a cycle is closed (this is more so when Yin and Yang are in this order). The way we hear it today, Yang ends announcing Yin…

Both pieces, as well as TANZENDES LICHT and the encore piece FELICE are published on the CD “Markus Stockhausen and the Metropole Orkest”, released by Intuition Records, Germany.

Sheet music

The score and parts can be ordered at:
Aktivraum Musikverlag
Volksgartenstr. 1
50677 Köln
Tel.: +49 221 9348118
Email: office (at) aktivraum.de

YIN

for Big Band, String Orchestra and Winds

Instruments

2 Alto Flutes
English Horn / Oboe
3 Clarinets in Bb
Bass Clarinet in Bb
Contra Bass Clarinet in Bb
French Horn in F
4 Flugelhorns
3 Trombones
Tuba
Harp
Guitar
Electric Piano
Vibraphone
Jazz Bass
Drum Set
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Double Bass

Aktivraum Musikverlag, Köln, ISMN: M-700233-30-3

YANG

for Big Band, String Orchestra and Winds

Instruments

Flute 1 / Piccolo
Flute 2
Oboe
Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
2 Tenor Saxophones
Baritone Saxophone
Horn in F
3 Trumpets
Trumpet 4 / Flugelhorn
3 Trombones
Bass Trombone
Harp
Jazz Guitar
Electric Piano
Vibraphone
Jazz Bass
Drum Set
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Double Bass

Aktivraum Musikverlag, Köln, ISMN: M-700233-31-0