AN ECONOMY OF MEANS (2016)
FOR PREPARED VIBRAPHONE
30 minutes
Program Notes
An Economy of Means is a kind of companion piece to my trio An Index of Possibility. In Index I used a wide range of materials—glass, metal, wood, ceramic, drums, toys, found objects—to create a large form that moved between distinctive worlds within a broad sonic palette. With An Economy of Means I’ve done the opposite, deliberately using one instrument, the vibraphone, and forcing myself to make the most out of limited resources. With a few simple preparations—tin foil, a manilla folder—and judicious usage of the vibraphone’s natural properties, I tried to build something vast and varied, as broad and ambitious as the trio but in a narrower, more focused context. Set in six movements, the nearly thirty minute piece doesn’t have a specific narrative. Even so, I think there is always a sense of motion, of drifting from space to space, with little dramas unfolding along the way.
An Economy of Means was commissioned by Doug Perkins and a consortium of Alumni of The Center for Advanced Musical Studies at Chosen Vale Percussion Seminar, including: Matthew Bimstein, Robby Bowen, Aaron Butler, Heather Church, Sean Harvey, Brandon Ilaw, David Irving, Niek Kleinjan, Aaron Levy, Michael Mazzullo, Ian McCollum, Taylor Mosher-Davis, Stephen Seymour, Melanie Voytovich, Amy Garapic, Ben Fraley, Evan Laybourn, David Abraham, Peter Ferry, Jeff Stern, Dustin Patrick, Kyle Flens, Pedro Carneiro, Adam Lion, Tyler Tolles, Doug Perkins, Michael Hardin, Makayla Phillips, Scott Strickland, Matthew Duvall, Rose Martin, Danielle Moreau, Nick Bolchoz, Neil Rao, Cameron Leach, Garett Mendelow, Shelly Purdy, James Deluca, Jake Harpster, and Glenn Kotche. It was Premiered July 8, 2016 by Amy Garapic at the Chosen Vale Percussion Seminar, Enfield, NH.
Purchase
For Prepared Vibraphone
Duration ~30 minutes
Six Movements
Movements may be excerpted or combined to form smaller suites.
The digital download of the score will be available immediately upon purchases. To order the print version, please go to the following link: An Economy of Means (Print)
**Current students can use the code Student20 at checkout for a 20% student discount**
For Prepared Vibraphone
Duration ~30 minutes
Six Movements
Movements may be excerpted or combined to form smaller suites.
Print orders will arrive 1-2 weeks from date-of-purchase. To order the digital version, go to the following page: An Economy of Means (PDF)
**Current students can use the code Student20 at checkout for a 20% student discount**
Recent Performances
May 5, 2025 The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD. Trey Perry.
May 1, 2025 UTSA, San Antonio, TX. Gabriella Reyna.
April 10, 2025 HanUnder Arts Festival, Dartmouth, NH. Chase Harvey.
April 6, 2025 Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. Momo Dorman.
December 13, 2024 Lynn University, Boca Raton, Fl. Stephen Halpner.
November 9, 2024 Warner Concert Hall, Oberlin Conservatory, Oberlin, OH. Brindhavan Jaeger.
November 9, 2024 Sapporo Concert Hall "Kitara", Sapporo, Japan. Masayuki Nino.
April 24, 2024 Pottle Recital Hall, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA. David Jenkins.
April 21, 2024 Fabio Lozano Auditorium, Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, Bogotá, Colombia. Eduardo Caicedo performs.
March 4, 2024 University of North Texas, Denton, TX. Denton Sutherlin.