Boxes of Music (2008)

Ron Coulter

General Info

Year: 2008
Duration: c. variable: 5:00+
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Kreating SounD
Cost: Score and Parts - $0.00   |   Score Only - $0.00

Instrumentation

Multiple Percussion & Live Electronic Processing - amplified tam tam (16" to 20", eleven music boxes (wind up, not hand crank; any melodies), two very thin splash cymbals, two coffee cans, and electronics (Alesis multi-mix 16 mixer onboard effects)

Program Notes

Boxes of Music (2008) is scored for amplified tam tam, eleven music boxes, two very thin splash cymbals, two coffee cans, and electronics. The title lacks creativity, but is descriptive. The piece is a miniature sound-mass composition inspired by the so-called sound-mass compositions by composers such as György Ligeti, Iannis Xenakis, and others. The arch form of the work is easily identifiable and is built simply from the accumulation and then dissipation of sounds, the deconstruction and then re-emergence of familiar melodies. This is process music.

Commercial Discography

Xtensions https://roncoulter.bandcamp.com/album/xtensions

Recent Performances

Studio Dada (Provo, UT), October 27, 2016, Performer: Ron Coulter
Brigham Young University (Provo, UT), October 27, 2016, Performer: Ron Coulter
Southern Utah University (Cedar City, UT), October 26, 2016, Performer: Ron Coulter
Wheeler Concert Hall, Casper College (Casper, WY), January 2016, Performer: Ron Coulter
Washington University-St. Louis, New Music Circle (St. Louis, MO), December 4, 2010, Performer: Ron Coulter
Lamont School of Music, Denver University (Denver, CO), 2008, Performer: Ron Coulter
Atlanta Convention Center, College Music Society (Atlanta, GA), 2008, Performer: Ron Coulter
University of Georgia (Athens, GA), 2008, Performer: Ron Coulter
Altgeld Hall, Southern Illinois University (Carbondale, IL), 2008 (World Premiere), Performer: Ron Coulter

To submit a performance please join the TEK Percussion Database

= Conga Works

Jenks (1998) – Conga Trio
Los Seis Manos (1999) – Conga Trio

Vibraphone Works

Opportunity Lost (2006) - Solo
Vibolet (2008) - Solo
Duet for Vibes (2001, rev. 2019) – Duet for Vibraphones
RE: the destruction of a life by a precious little flower (2009) – Solo Vibraphone & Live Electronic Processing
Disappointment in the smallness of humanity. (2015) – Solo Vibraphone & Live Electronics
Persistent Reflection on Opportunity Lost (2011) – Solo Bowed Vibraphone & Live Electronic Processing

Marimba Works

Marimba Peace (2006) – Marimba Quintet
Repose for Two Marimbas (2007) – Marimba Duo
7_4-Simplex (2008) – Marimba Solo
Marimba Trio No. 1 (Amadinda Meditation) (2007-08) – Marimba Trio

Multiple Percussion Works

Unstack/Re-Stack (2018) – solo for percussion

Snare Drum Works

System No. 3 – Elaborations on Pendulum Music (2019) – Solo for 2 Snare Drums & 3 Mini-Guitar Amps with Hanging Microphones
CODE-20.vi (2020) – Solo for 2 Snare Drums & 1 Radio
System No. 2 (2018) – Solo Snare Drum & Chinese Cymbal
Areas 1: Voices…a dead person’s things (2016) – Solo for 2 Snare Drums & Controlled Feedback
System No. 1 (2015) – Solo Prepared Snare Drum

Elementary Percussion Ensemble Works

Spricey (2020) – Percussion Duet (1 of 3)
Barky’s Demise (2020) – Percussion Trio (1 of 3)
Looka’ Choo (choo)! (2021/2025) – Percussion Trio (2 of 3)
Bim! Bim! Bim! (2025) – Percussion Trio (3 of 3)
bizzy lil’ buzzle (2019) – Percussion Quintet (1 of 3)
GO! Squirrel! (2019) – Percussion Quintet (2 of 3)
March for Bill & Johanna (2020) – Percussion Quintet (3 of 3)

Percussion Ensemble Works

more metal than you(rs) (2020) – Percussion Duet
Repression (2001) – percussion quartet
…the tiny rooms of starvation and madness. (2018) – Percussion Octet
essence de clapping music (2020) – 1 or 2 Clappers
S P H E R E S (December 2010) – Percussion Quintet & Prepared Piano
Sonic Event on the Significance of John Cage (2012) – Percussion Ensemble & Speaker

Portable Instrumentation Works

RatchetMusik #1 (amircantian) (2021) – 2+ Ratchet Performers
Ratchet Musik No.2 (2021) – Quartet for Ratchets
Ratchet Musik #3 (concentration) (2021) – Any Number of Ratchet Performers
Trio for Woodblocks (2000) – Trio for Wood Blocks
Akaheze Folk Song (2021) – Solo for Controlled Feedback & 2 Wind Whistles

Flexible Ensemble Works

Sensing 1 (2023) – 5 to 9 Players
Hallucinations (2025) – 7 or more Players
Some M.P.S. (but waaaaay better) (2019) – 3 or more players
Composition362 (2019, rev. 2021) – 3 or more Players
Strange Thoughts (2019) – 3 or more Players
Stars, Tears, and Ice Picks (2014) – 6-12 Players
For Johanna Beyer (2015) – 9 or more Plaeyrs & Speaker

With Other Instrument Works

On the One (2022) – Percussion Quintet with Piano
Ominous Presence (2022) – Septet for Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Viola, Electric Guitar, Electronics, and Percussion

Unclassified

JAM BOX: Cajon Trio for Nate #1 and Nate #2 (2007-08) – Cajon Trio
Boxes of Music (2008) – Solo Percussion & Live Electronic Processing
Four Tempers (2009) – drum set part only (in collaboration with Eric P. Mandat)
High Fives for Eddie (2020) – Solo Drum with Optional Preparations
GLOCK9 (2013) – Solo for 9 Almglocken
The Bleak, Disconsolate Pulchritude (2014) – Quartet for Spoxe & Optional Live Feedback
Seven Thoughts for Glockenspiel (2015) – Solo Glockenspiel/Multiple Percussion
Zzzerrrrrangatang! (2015) – Solo Snare Drum & 4 Graduated Elephant Bells
LOST… (2015) – Bass Clarinet & 1-100+ Percussionists
Beautiful Waste (2015/16) – Solo Brake Drums & Live Electronics
Dark, True Center (2016) – Solo Manhassett Music Stand, Kalimba & Live Electronics
Meditation on Living (2016) – Solo Percussion & Live Electronics
Joy! (of the beautiful ones) (2016) – Solo Friction Snare Drum
Love Letter to a Liar (2016) – Solo Shona Mbira
Looking into a faded life burning out. (2007-2017) – Quartet for Glockenspiel/Crotales, Vibraphone, Marimba, and Bass Marimba
Rock Etudes 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9 (2017, rev. 2018) – Any Number of Performers Playing Rocks
…the laughter of the mutilated…, RE: Bukowski (2018) – Solo Shona Mbira, Snare Drum & Vibrator
Rock Etudes 1.0, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 (2006) – Any Number of Performers Playing Rocks