Cygnus X

Houben, Etienne

Medium/Advanced Concert Percussion

16 Players

In this 10-1/2 minute work for 16 percussionists, the composer was inspired by the fantasies he had as as child when he looked up at the stars in awe. What secrets are hidden behind the night sky? The Galaxy Swan, Cygnus in Latin, is best known for Cygnus X-1 – a black hole. Cygnus X-1 was the first proof that black holes exist. This phenomenon is one of the greatest forces in the universe. Even light cannot escape this cosmic primal force. The piece takes the listener on a cosmic journey to the black hole through the eyes of a child.

Instrumentation: Player 1: Glockenspiel Player 2: Xylophone, Crotales (2 octaves), High Splash Cymbal Player 3: Vibraphone Player 4: Marimba 1 (4-octave) Player 5: Marimba 2 (4.3-octave), Medium High Splash Cymbal Player 6: Marimba 3 (5-octave), Medium Splash Cymbal Player 7: Chimes, Wine Glasses (D, E, F) Player 8: Timpani (4-5 drums), Temple Bowls (A, D) Player 9: Snare Drum, Temple Blocks (2), High Opera Gong, Analog Metronome Player 10: Field or Tenor Drum, 2 Roto-Toms, 4 Octobans Player 11: Snare Drum, 4 Concert Toms, Impact Bass Drum, Analog Metronome, Bongos, 2 Triangles Player 12: Hi-Hat, Wind Chimes, Spring Drum, Claves, Woodblock, Tambourine, Impact Bass Drum Player 13: Tambourine, Analog Metronome, Bell Tree, Triangle Player 14: Cymbals (Sizzle, Crash Pair, China, Suspended), Finger Cymbals Player 15: Large Tam-Tam, Suspended Cymbal Player 16: Concert Bass Drum