Moto Perpetuo

Nodding to famed works of the same title, like Paganini's violin showpiece, Moto Perpetuo is a high-octane musical fantasy for large percussion ensemble that explores the concept of perpetual motion and the possibilities of AI-generated music. While the piece was not AI-generated, the composer considered what could happen if you gave AI a few prompts and asked it to improvise a new piece.

Program Notes

Moto Perpetuo is a high-octane musical fantasy for large percussion ensemble that explores the concept of perpetual motion and the possibilities of AI-generated music. While the piece was not AI-generated, the composer considered what could happen if you gave AI a few prompts and asked it to improvise a new piece.

Beginning with a single note, the piece catapults into a frenetic interplay of shifting melody, harmony, and tonal center, often teetering on the verge of collapse. At a pivotal moment, the music compresses into a swirling mass of twelve-tone harmony, losing all sense of tonal center, leaving only the constant eighth-note rhythm intact. This "system reset" serves as a springboard for the music to reconstruct itself, culminating in a triumphant ending.

Nodding to famed works of the same name, like Paganini's violin showpiece, Moto Perpetuo also functions as a musical allegory for the constant whirlwind of life experiences—capturing moments of joy, struggle, and triumph. In doing so, it pays homage to a long-standing musical tradition and pushes its boundaries, serving as a testament to the possibilities and complexities of modern music and life.

Grade Level: Medium Advanced
Copyright: 2023
Number of Players: 12
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Category: Percussion

Instrumentation

Bells
Vibraphone 1
Vibraphone 2
Xylophone & Crotales (2 octaves)
Marimba 1 (4.3-octave)
Marimba 2 (4.3-octave)
Marimba 3 (4.5-octave)
Marimba 4 (5.0-octave)
5 Timpani

Percussion 1: Earth Plate, 4 Concert Toms, Temple Blocks, Anvil, Medium & High Suspended Cymbals, Pair of Crash Cymbals
Percussion 2: Hi-Hat, Kick Drum, Snare Drum, Bongos, Medium Suspended Cymbal
Percussion 3: Ribbon Crasher, Large China Cymbal, Gong, Chimes, 4 Metal Bowls