Breaking the News was inspired by the incredible political and social events that took place in America during 2016. Things like terrorist threats, the Black Lives Matter movement, the 2016 Presidential Campaign, and everything related, led to an intense time of social unrest. Whenever a new story hit the news, initial reactions were wild and impulsive. People jumped to conclusions and acted on their immediate emotions.
This piece began just like that – as an intense flow of emotion fueled by what I was hearing in the news in Spring of 2016. As I wrote the piece throughout the summer, I noticed how the music reflected the feelings I had toward the same ideas which initially sparked the piece. It is easy to feel anger and hatred, but as one dwells on these ideas, one’s true nature begins to show, as it takes in new information and comes to refined conclusions, in stark contrast to the initial flow of emotion.
Breaking the News is scored for:
– 5 Skin instruments (Any combination of bongos, congas, toms, etc.)
– 5 Similar short wood sounds (temple blocks, wood blocks, wood planks, etc.)
– 5 Similar resonant metal sounds (bell plates, tuned pipes, Sixxen bars, etc.)
– 1 Semi-resonant metal sound (brake drum, metal baseball bat, etc.)
– 1 Bass Drum (Small concert bass drum turned on its side)
