1 - Wisteria Tunnels - Tokyo, Japan [0'00"]2 - Keukenhof - Lisse, Netherlands [4'10"]3 - Monet's Garden - Giverny, France [5'45"]4 - Powerscourt Estate and Gardens - Enniskerry, Ireland [7'06"]5 - Butchart Gardens - British Columbia, Canada [9'35"]6 - Brooklyn Botanical Gardens - New York City, USA [11'10]
PROGRAM NOTE
"Exotic Gardens" is a mesmerizing contemporary musical work composed for solo hang drum, crafted with delicacy and exquisiteness. This composition invites listeners on an immersive sonic journey, evoking lush landscapes and transporting them to a realm of tranquility and exploration.
Inspired by six iconic gardens from around the world, "Exotic Gardens" pays homage to the beauty and diversity of nature across different continents and cultures. Each section of the composition corresponds to a specific garden, capturing its essence through evocative melodies, rhythmic motifs, and sonic textures, each movement infused with unique interpretive cues that guide the emotional landscape.
The hang drum, featured prominently throughout "Exotic Gardens," is a unique and captivating instrument that adds depth and richness to the sonic tapestry. Developed in Switzerland in the early 21st century, the hang drum consists of two metal hemispheres tuned to specific pitches, creating a melodic and percussive instrument reminiscent of steel pans and gamelan instruments. Played with the hands, the hang drum produces resonant tones and ethereal timbres, making it a versatile and expressive instrument well-suited for solo performance.
Wisteria Tunnels - Tokyo, JapanEmbark on a journey to the enchanting Wisteria Tunnels in Tokyo, Japan, where cascading blooms create a canopy of purple hues. Wisteria, with its delicate and fragrant blossoms, forms the centerpiece of this garden, entwining over trellises and creating a dreamlike tunnel. Additionally, visitors can admire cherry blossoms, azaleas, and various species of Japanese maples, contributing to the garden's serene atmosphere. Musically, in this movement, the hang drum pays meticulous attention to a melodic texture, unfolding with delicate and ethereal melodies that evoke the serenity and tranquility of this breathtaking botanical wonder, embraced by the serene instruction of "Tranquilo".
Keukenhof - Lisse, NetherlandsVenture forth to the vibrant Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, Netherlands, renowned for its stunning displays of tulips and other spring flowers. As one of the world's largest flower gardens, Keukenhof boasts over seven million bulbs planted annually, including tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses. These colorful blooms carpet the landscape in a riot of hues, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle that celebrates the arrival of spring. In this movement, the hang drum develops a more polyphonic chordal approach, weaving intricate layers of harmonies and rhythms that emulate the vibrant tapestry of colors found in this floral paradise, immersed in the introspective instruction of "Contemplativo".
Monet's Garden - Giverny, FranceStep into the realm of the iconic Monet's Garden in Giverny, France, where the legendary artist found inspiration amidst a riot of colors and textures. Monet's Garden features a symphony of floral delights, including water lilies, Japanese bridges draped with wisteria, weeping willows, and vibrant flower beds bursting with irises, poppies, and roses. These elements come together to create a living canvas that inspired many of Monet's most famous paintings. The music reflects the impressionistic beauty of this garden, with shimmering harmonies and cascading arpeggios that evoke the play of light and shadow on water lilies and weeping willows, guided by the expressive directive of "Rubato poco libero".
Powerscourt Estate and Gardens - Enniskerry, IrelandContinue the journey to the majestic Powerscourt Estate and Gardens in Enniskerry, Ireland, where verdant landscapes and cascading waterfalls create a sense of awe and wonder. Nestled within the Wicklow Mountains, Powerscourt Estate is renowned for its formal gardens, featuring terraces adorned with Italian Renaissance statues, ornamental lakes, and lush greenery. Rhododendrons, azaleas, and magnolias thrive in this idyllic setting, complemented by the dramatic backdrop of Sugarloaf Mountain. Here, the hang drum unleashes a relentless "moto perpetuo" rhythm, evoking the perpetual motion of nature's cycles and the boundless energy of the landscape, stirred by the dynamic indication of "Volatile".
Butchart Gardens - British Columbia, CanadaRevel in the breathtaking beauty of the Butchart Gardens in British Columbia, Canada, where lush foliage and vibrant blooms create a kaleidoscope of color and fragrance. Butchart Gardens showcases a diverse array of plant species, including roses, dahlias, begonias, and Japanese maples, interspersed with tranquil ponds, winding pathways, and ornamental fountains. Notable features include the Sunken Garden, the Rose Garden, and the Japanese Garden, each offering its own unique charm. In this segment, the music is enriched by the use of random notes preceded by mordents and appoggiaturas, evoking the spontaneity and organic growth found within this botanical paradise, lifted by the airy directive of "Leggiero".
Brooklyn Botanical Gardens - New York City, USAConclude the journey with a tribute to the iconic Brooklyn Botanical Gardens in New York City, USA, where urban oasis meets natural splendor. Located in the heart of Brooklyn, this botanical gem encompasses diverse ecosystems, including the serene Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, the fragrant Cranford Rose Garden, and the exotic Desert Pavilion. Visitors can explore a rich tapestry of plant life, from cherry blossoms and magnolias to cacti and succulents, amidst the bustling energy of the cityscape. The music here takes a minimalistic style, creating a serene and contemplative musical environment. Minimalism is a compositional approach characterized by simplicity, repetition, and gradual variation. In this context, the hang drum unfolds with sparse yet poignant melodies, enveloped in subtle rhythmic patterns. This minimalist style invites listeners to focus on the interplay of sound and silence, evoking a sense of introspection and tranquility amidst the bustling cityscape, expressed through the precise coordination of "Precision".
Throughout "Exotic Gardens", listeners are invited to embark on a sensory journey through these six iconic gardens, experiencing the beauty, diversity, and wonder of nature in all its forms. Through its evocative melodies, rhythmic intricacies, and lush sonic textures, this composition offers a moment of respite and reflection, inviting audiences to connect with the natural world and with their own inner landscapes.
"Exotic Gardens" is a mesmerizing contemporary musical work composed for solo hang drum, crafted with delicacy and exquisiteness. This composition invites listeners on an immersive sonic journey, evoking lush landscapes and transporting them to a realm of tranquility and exploration.
Inspired by six iconic gardens from around the world, "Exotic Gardens" pays homage to the beauty and diversity of nature across different continents and cultures. Each section of the composition corresponds to a specific garden, capturing its essence through evocative melodies, rhythmic motifs, and sonic textures, each movement infused with unique interpretive cues that guide the emotional landscape.
The hang drum, featured prominently throughout "Exotic Gardens," is a unique and captivating instrument that adds depth and richness to the sonic tapestry. Developed in Switzerland in the early 21st century, the hang drum consists of two metal hemispheres tuned to specific pitches, creating a melodic and percussive instrument reminiscent of steel pans and gamelan instruments. Played with the hands, the hang drum produces resonant tones and ethereal timbres, making it a versatile and expressive instrument well-suited for solo performance.
Wisteria Tunnels - Tokyo, JapanEmbark on a journey to the enchanting Wisteria Tunnels in Tokyo, Japan, where cascading blooms create a canopy of purple hues. Wisteria, with its delicate and fragrant blossoms, forms the centerpiece of this garden, entwining over trellises and creating a dreamlike tunnel. Additionally, visitors can admire cherry blossoms, azaleas, and various species of Japanese maples, contributing to the garden's serene atmosphere. Musically, in this movement, the hang drum pays meticulous attention to a melodic texture, unfolding with delicate and ethereal melodies that evoke the serenity and tranquility of this breathtaking botanical wonder, embraced by the serene instruction of "Tranquilo".
Keukenhof - Lisse, NetherlandsVenture forth to the vibrant Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, Netherlands, renowned for its stunning displays of tulips and other spring flowers. As one of the world's largest flower gardens, Keukenhof boasts over seven million bulbs planted annually, including tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and crocuses. These colorful blooms carpet the landscape in a riot of hues, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle that celebrates the arrival of spring. In this movement, the hang drum develops a more polyphonic chordal approach, weaving intricate layers of harmonies and rhythms that emulate the vibrant tapestry of colors found in this floral paradise, immersed in the introspective instruction of "Contemplativo".
Monet's Garden - Giverny, FranceStep into the realm of the iconic Monet's Garden in Giverny, France, where the legendary artist found inspiration amidst a riot of colors and textures. Monet's Garden features a symphony of floral delights, including water lilies, Japanese bridges draped with wisteria, weeping willows, and vibrant flower beds bursting with irises, poppies, and roses. These elements come together to create a living canvas that inspired many of Monet's most famous paintings. The music reflects the impressionistic beauty of this garden, with shimmering harmonies and cascading arpeggios that evoke the play of light and shadow on water lilies and weeping willows, guided by the expressive directive of "Rubato poco libero".
Powerscourt Estate and Gardens - Enniskerry, IrelandContinue the journey to the majestic Powerscourt Estate and Gardens in Enniskerry, Ireland, where verdant landscapes and cascading waterfalls create a sense of awe and wonder. Nestled within the Wicklow Mountains, Powerscourt Estate is renowned for its formal gardens, featuring terraces adorned with Italian Renaissance statues, ornamental lakes, and lush greenery. Rhododendrons, azaleas, and magnolias thrive in this idyllic setting, complemented by the dramatic backdrop of Sugarloaf Mountain. Here, the hang drum unleashes a relentless "moto perpetuo" rhythm, evoking the perpetual motion of nature's cycles and the boundless energy of the landscape, stirred by the dynamic indication of "Volatile".
Butchart Gardens - British Columbia, CanadaRevel in the breathtaking beauty of the Butchart Gardens in British Columbia, Canada, where lush foliage and vibrant blooms create a kaleidoscope of color and fragrance. Butchart Gardens showcases a diverse array of plant species, including roses, dahlias, begonias, and Japanese maples, interspersed with tranquil ponds, winding pathways, and ornamental fountains. Notable features include the Sunken Garden, the Rose Garden, and the Japanese Garden, each offering its own unique charm. In this segment, the music is enriched by the use of random notes preceded by mordents and appoggiaturas, evoking the spontaneity and organic growth found within this botanical paradise, lifted by the airy directive of "Leggiero".
Brooklyn Botanical Gardens - New York City, USAConclude the journey with a tribute to the iconic Brooklyn Botanical Gardens in New York City, USA, where urban oasis meets natural splendor. Located in the heart of Brooklyn, this botanical gem encompasses diverse ecosystems, including the serene Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, the fragrant Cranford Rose Garden, and the exotic Desert Pavilion. Visitors can explore a rich tapestry of plant life, from cherry blossoms and magnolias to cacti and succulents, amidst the bustling energy of the cityscape. The music here takes a minimalistic style, creating a serene and contemplative musical environment. Minimalism is a compositional approach characterized by simplicity, repetition, and gradual variation. In this context, the hang drum unfolds with sparse yet poignant melodies, enveloped in subtle rhythmic patterns. This minimalist style invites listeners to focus on the interplay of sound and silence, evoking a sense of introspection and tranquility amidst the bustling cityscape, expressed through the precise coordination of "Precision".
Throughout "Exotic Gardens", listeners are invited to embark on a sensory journey through these six iconic gardens, experiencing the beauty, diversity, and wonder of nature in all its forms. Through its evocative melodies, rhythmic intricacies, and lush sonic textures, this composition offers a moment of respite and reflection, inviting audiences to connect with the natural world and with their own inner landscapes.
Albert CARBONELL - EXOTIC GARDENS (for hang drum).pdf