Hannah Kendall
the chariot of fire?
Commissioned by The Hallé and first performed with conductor Jonathan Bloxham at Hallé St Peter's, Manchester, broadcast on 14 January 2021. Version 21.09.2022 Sy. 9104/01
Instrumentation
2 Flutes (2. doubling piccolo)
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets in Bb (2. doubling Harmonicas in C & D)
2 Bassoons (2. doubling Harmonicas in C & D)
2 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in B b
1 Trombone
1 Tuba
Percussion (2 players)
2 Side Drums (equal size)
Guiro (medium)
Harp
Piano ( + 2 wind-up music boxes; piece of A4 paper)
Strings 2.2.2.2.2 (Violin 1 player 2 doubling 15-note music box)
Duration c. 6' 30
Score in C
For J.H.
Where is the chariot of fire?
Where is the chariot of fire?
– Lemn Sissay (Godsell)
Performance Notes
The harmonicas, wind-up music boxes, and 15-note hand-cranked music box with accompanying paper reels and hole punch can all be sourced from online platforms including Amazon.
The harmonicas will most likely be tuned to A=440. If the ensemble tunes to a different frequency, please do not adjust to accommodate the harmonicas.
Music for the harmonicas is notated at sounding pitch.
If breaths are required when playing the harmonics, diminuendo to silence before doing so, and re-enter with a crescendo from silence afterwards. Ideally all breathing should be staggered with corresponding harmonica players.
The two percussionists should be positioned at opposite ends of the performance space, as far away from each other as possible, to push the boundaries of rhythmic precision.
The piano lid should be placed on the short or medium stick.
Enharmonic unisons found within and between the string parts, indicated by accidentals inflected with arrows, should produce the effect of a rough buzzing timbre; players should hold the pitch very slightly sharper or flatter than the stated intonation.
Vocal sounds are whispered throughout. They should be performed introspectively, and always cohesively with the surrounding textures.
Where instructed, string players should hum in unison with their played notes.
The two wind-up music boxes should play the pre-programmed tunes You are my sunshine and Carrying You . If they are impossible to source, alternative music box tunes may be used.
A transcription of the 15-note music box song Deep River , played by the second Violin 1 player, is given below. It is recommended that the melody is transcribed into the music box paper reel at octaves, using the tools provided with the music box. Two extra 15-note music boxes also playing Deep River , played by the percussionists, could be included for additional volume.
In bars 114 - 122, the first violin and music box should perform as a duet.
Percussion 1
Percussion 2
Violin 1 Violin 2
Remove music boxes from piano. Place sheet of paper inside piano, ensuring the strings for d'' (D