Susanna Payne-Passmore

Voyages
for Flute, Harp, and Percussion

Composed for the Archaea Tree

Ensemble. Premiered at Troublesome
Gap 2015.
!

Performance Notes
Voyages evokes the exploration into the unknown. To learn something new, one
must traverse this troublesome gap between what is known and what is not yet
understood, a process that can be exhilarating or frightening. As an exploration of
new techniques, this piece was a journey into the unknown for me. Performers may
also take a journey of their own learning new extended techniques for their
instruments. And I hope that listeners may find these new sounds exciting as they
listen to this piece and traverse a troublesome gap of their own.
~Susanna Payne-Passmore
Rehearsal letter F is unmetered and, for ease of coordination, the whole score is
provided for this section. Refer to the harpist for pacing and visual cues. Be
comfortable with silences. Use presence to dissuade clapping.

Percussion

glockenspiel
bass drum
medium gong
bucket of water
superball mallet
five metallic objects

Select five metallic objects that are partially pitched, with a half-step to a third
between each. The melodic contour should resemble the glockenspiels opening
motif. In sections A, B, and C, use a mallet that brings out pitch. In sections D and
forward, use mallet that brings out more noisy qualities.
In measure 28, play the gong while dipping into and out of a container of water. Cue
harpist when ready to move on to section C.

Harp

Flute

Extra materials needed:

palm-sized paper piece
superball mallet
five tiny hairclips
small table for items
Scrape strings with
paper, starting fast and
slowing. Pitch descends.

Fully voiced
Half voiced
Jet whistle with noise pitch
following arrow.

Slap-tongue
Hit strings with palm of hand.
Tongue ram
Rub side of strings with both
palms in circles. Avoid
pulsing. Should be an eerie
drone with slight pitch.
Scrape superball mallet
against strings vertically for
a moaning/whale-like
sound.
Strike string with superball
mallet.
Clip tiny hairclips
onto any 5
midrange strings.
Pluck any two strings with
hairclips.

BUZZ Blow directly into the

embouchure hole with lips
compressed enough to vibrate
together.

I. Embarking
Fl.

Hp.

Perc.

Glock.

q = 76

jet

mp

mf

10

air sounds

h = 48

A let vibrate

mp

mf

scrape

mf

mf

mp

13

mp

mf

16

19

mf

mf

mf

22

mp

25

mf

bell-like

mp

mf

27

ord.

Lower gong into and out of water.

Let
drip.

ss.
gli

gliss.

mf

Proceed at percussionists cue.

II. Strange Winds

29

ss.
gli

fast--slow
with paper

lithe

mp

secretive

f p
palm hit

Scrape gong with metal, plastic, or nail.

Cue group when ready.

mp

32

mf

36

pp

scrape

mf

mallet
knuckle

Continue after short pause.

mf

III. Unknown Bearings

D
HT! HT!

mf

38

Pedals to C, D# Eb, F, G, Ab, B#.

/ 0
Prepare hairclips.

mp

mf

HT!

BUZZ

mf

48

HT!

HT!

f scrape, let ring

mf
HT! HT!

HT!

HT!

ppp

HT! HT!

tap with
shaft
/ \

ppp

pp

*
flt.

HT!

Glock.

HT!

HT!

tap with
shaft

mf

HT!

center

43

*
flt.

Jet Whistle

HT!

rub wire strings with palms

noise and a litlle pitch

pp

( * ) May be partially voiced and contain noise or air sounds.

**
otherworldly
-----------------------------

52

pp

---------------------------------

BUZZ

59

**

Alternate improvised superball strokes on

gong and bass. Explore dynamic timbres.
Range:
p to mf .

(**) Any microtonal tuning.

(turn page)

BUZZ

63

Unmetered: follow harpist.

Seek maximum blend.

Hairclips - improvised plucks on pairs.

67

HT!

BUZZ

71

HT!

one stroke

HT!

HT!

HT!

one stroke

HT!

HT!

Remove hairclips.

unmuted
Lower gong into water.

Harpist begins vamping immediately after gong gliss.

gliss.

IV. Return
Wait for percussionist's signal.

75

mf

mp

Pedals at C, D# Eb, F, G, Ab, B#.

Return gong
to stand silently. Percussionist signal when ready.

79

mf

Vamp this measure until

percussionist's signal.
Strum quickly.

edge

mallet down

mp

3
mf

10

82

mf

85

3
3
3
3
3

mp

mf

ff

11

88

mf

91

superball mallet

superball mallet

12

94

put mallet down

superball mallet

97

mp

mf

superball
mallet scrape

mp