Tubes

Tubes (2008)
As the antithesis of Farr’s previous works for STRIKE Percussion such as Pukul (PE096) and
Ukare Funk (PE129) which exude machismo through large multi-percussion setups and high
energy playing, Tubes restricts each player to one simple instrument producing one pitch.
Farr utilises the interlocking playing techniques of Balinese gamelan music to create the
illusion of one polyphonic instrument from the four performers. The incessant pulse often
found in Farr’s music is constant throughout.
Tubes was commissioned for STRIKE Percussion with funding from Creative New Zealand
and received its premiere performance as part of their show Elemental at Downstage Theatre,
Wellington, New Zealand, on 3 July 2008.
Performance notes
Instruments
• The instruments for this work are four hollow aluminium pipes approximately 8–12cm
in diameter. Ideally all four pipes should be the same diameter with the choice based
on what is comfortable for the performers to handle. The pipe material must be thick
enough to be resonant when struck, but not too thick as to be heavy and cumbersome.
The material should be thicker than a drainpipe as to not easily be dented, but thinner
than scaffolding pipe. Each performer has just one pipe and holds it with the palm and
fingers near the centre in their non-dominant hand.
• The lengths of the pipe are to be ordered so that Percussion 1 has the highest pitch
(shortest pipe) and Percussion 4 the lowest sounding pitch (longest pipe). The pipes
should range between 25cm for Percussion 1, and 55cm for Percussion 4, with Percussion
2 and 3 fitting in between at approximately 35cm and 45cm respectively. These
measurements are only a guide and the ensemble should use their judgement when
sourcing the instruments for this work.
PE130 – v