Composition - - American Recorder Society
Morse Haiku No. 11
By Anthony St. Pierre March 2005
 
S T
 
 
The soprano plays a Morse Code transliteration of a haiku by Ryoto (in English translation) to the accompaniment of the tenor. Two oriental pentatonic scales, the Pelog and Kumoi characteristic of the Balinese gamelan, are employed. The challenge is in navigation without meter. This is one of a number of pieces in which the composer has transliterated haiku in Morse. Duration: 1:20

Scott Paterson (S) and the composer (T) are heard on the recording.
Moon in the water
Turning white somersault
Then went floating off.
 
-- Anthony St. Pierre
 
 
This clever ST duet is technically very easy except for the unmarked meter that changes from measure to measure, since it is based on Morse Code. It’s a great way to get comfortable with reading music “as it goes by” and freeing yourself from the constraints and expectations of regular bar lengths.
-- Glen Shannon
 
 
No. of Recorder Parts:
2
Difficulty:
Moderate
Occasion:
Any
Libraries:
New Music for Recorder
Date Added:
01/21/2019
Style:
Concert, Fast/Up-tempo, Non-tonal/Modern