Countdown

Taylor, Alan

About the work

The piece was written in response to a request from the French group, Ensemble Decadanse, for sets of 10 second pieces to be played in the millennium year. This group of pieces represent a form of countdown to something new. The score is headed with a quotation from Edgar Varese – “Dying is the privilege of the weary.”

Technical notes

The piece consists of eleven 10 second movements. It can be played by any size of ensemble – the minimum required is one high, one medium, and one low instrument. The piece needs to be conducted, whatever the size of the ensemble.