Tubes

• The pitches produced are not critical and so have not been specified but the ensemble
should work to make each pitch distinct so that the mixture of overtones creates a rich
but pleasant sonority when all four are played simultaneously.
Beater
• The beater used to strike the aluminium tube should ideally be a steel rod with a felt tip.
The rod should be solid steel, similar in diameter to a regular drumstick (~1.5cm) but
slightly shorter at around 30cm in length. A taper is not necessary. At the tip must be
a layer of thick felt to act as the main beater surface. The felt should be approximately
0.3cm thick and extend about 3cm down the shaft.
• If the ensemble cannot source or create a beater as described above, a felt tipped metal
shafted beater—as sometimes used by tenor drum players of a drumline—may be used.
Playing technique
• The hollow aluminium pipe is to be held near the centre in the non-dominant hand and
the beater in the dominant hand. The pipe is ideally held on an angle (not vertical nor
horizontal) so that a quasi-normal sticking action can be used.
• All regular noteheads are to be played with a moderately firm grip on the aluminium
pipe and by striking the pipe with the felt tip of the beater. This should produce a
deadened but semi-pitched
À
tone.
• Noteheads with the (open) symbol are to be played by throwing the pipe a short
distance out of the hand and hitting it with the felt tip of the beater. You will need to
throw the pipe prior to the moment when the note must sound. The distance the pipe
travels from the hand should be minimal, as to minimize the risk of losing control and
dropping the pipe, but far enough to be free in the air when struck to produce a resonant
tone. The time in the air should also be equal to the notated duration before the pipe is
caught again, and therefore damped by the hand.
• ¿ noteheads are to be played by firmly gripping the aluminium pipe and striking with
the metal shaft of the beater. This metal-on-metal sound should be harsh and contrasting
to the regular playing technique for this work.
• In the penultimate measure of work, during the bar rest, the aluminium pipe should be
turned to be horizontal and perpendicular to the players dominant arm and beater. To
play the final measure, throw the pipe in the air—higher than previously—and then hit
upwards at one end of the pipe. Using the correct amount of force, ensure the pipe rotates
180 degrees before catching it again.
PE130 – vi