Tedrow_Flickers_FINAL

Alex Tedrow

Flickers
Alex Tedrow
for band and audio track
Commissioned by the Indiana University Young Winds program
2023

Program Notes
Growing up in rural Southern Indiana, I have always been fascinated and awestruck by fireflies. I
distinctly remember the magic I felt as a kid watching flickering lights slowly emerge from the
hayfields at dusk. When I was asked to write a piece that relied heavily on aleatory and student
improvisation, I first set out to write a slow, wondrous, and reflective soundscape meant to portray
fireflies filling up the night sky. But then… I decided that wasn’t enough.
After some basic research, I learned that there is a much darker side to fireflies than we usually think.
As assumed, they use their flickering light patterns as a mating ritual, but there’s more to it than
that. Not only do they emit toxic poison when attacked, they are also ferocious tricksters. Certain
female sub-species of fireflies will mimic the pattern of smaller, weaker sub-species to lure in males
as potential mates... then... instead... THEY EAT THEM! Morbid.
The idea for this piece is to set up a beautiful, serene landscape of improvisatory, flickering,
bioluminescent music that quickly devolves into an evil, deceptive feast. After the villainous fireflies
have gotten their fill, they descend back into the ground only for the cycle of new life and death to
continue.
Thank you to the Indiana University Young Winds program for commissioning this piece. Enjoy!
Performance Notes
- This piece uses audio mp3 tracks that should be synced with the ensemble. Proper level adjustment
should be done ahead of time to ensure the band balances appropriately with the audio.
- No click track is required for alignment. Each of the 8 audio tracks should be loaded into a playlist
(iTunes or similar) so they can be cued by an assistant. Each cue should occur on the downbeat of
the measure specified. The tracks are designed so they fade seamlessly in and out of the band’s
sound with tempo flexibility in mind. The conductor should make sure they can hear the audio
clearly (preferably through a monitor or headphones) to stay in sync with the tracks.
- This piece makes use of aleatoric figures to create textural “webs” of sound. Footnotes describe the
general effects desired. The conductor should make a point of expressing the narrative of the piece so
the performers have the opportunity to creatively come up with improvised sounds that match the
desired sounds. Performers should strive NOT to line up their parts together; no two instruments
should be approaching these improvised sections in exactly the same way. The percussion section, in
particular, is instructed to use any instruments and playing techniques they deem appropriate to
mimic the sounds of insects. Creative problem solving is encouraged in this regard, though please
feel free to contact alextedrowmusic@gmail.com with any questions or for suggestions.
- This score is in transposed pitch.
www.alextedrow.com

(cover art designed by Austin Jones – used with permission)
Grade Level
Grade 2/2.5
Duration
4.5 minutes
Equipment
- Laptop, tablet, phone, or other device capable of playing audio (please contact
alextedrowmusic@gmail.com for access to sound files); Note: the audio tracks are not optional
- Adapter cables or audio interface
- Stereo speaker system
- Monitor/headphones for conductor
- No click track or microphones required
Instrumentation
Flute 1, 2
Oboe
Bassoon
B♭ Clarinet 1, 2
B♭ Bass Clarinet
E♭ Alto Saxophone 1, 2
B♭ Tenor Saxophone
E♭ Baritone Saxophone
B♭ Trumpet 1, 2
F Horn
Trombone 1, 2
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion 1 – Toms (3 drums), Cabasa
Percussion 2 – Snare Drum, Ratchet
Percussion 3 – Bass Drum, Vibraslap
Percussion 4 – Chimes, Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Suspended Cymbal
(note: percussionists are asked to improvise using various
instruments of their choosing beyond what is listed here)
www.alextedrow.com

Music typeset by the composer
Copyright © 2023 by Alex Tedrow
Printed in Indiana, USA
All Rights Reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any electronics or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording or information
storage and retrieval) without permission from the publisher. Please notify composer of all performances.
Tedrow, Alex (ASCAP)
- Flickers, band and audio track
www.alextedrow.com

Transposed Score
commissioned by the Indiana University Young Winds program
Duration: 4 min.
Flickers Alex Tedrow (b. 1999)
Flute 1, 2
= 108 Dusk
Cue Track 1
Oboe
Bassoon
B Clarinet 1, 2
B Bass Clarinet
E Alto Saxophone 1, 2
B Tenor Saxophone
E Baritone Saxophone
B Trumpet 1, 2
F Horn
Trombone 1, 2
Euphonium
Tuba
a2
*
Timpani
Percussion 1
Percussion 2
Percussion 3
Percussion 4
Toms
F, A, C
Snare Drum
Bass Drum
(3 drums)
Chimes
1
2
3
4
* slap tongue inside mouthpiece without tone; move valves/slide freely;
increase and decrease speed and repeat as if imitating distant night-time critters;
improvise subtle dynamic swells
©2023. All rights reserved by Alex Tedrow (ASCAP).
www.alextedrow.com
5
6

Flickers - Tedrow (page 2)
Fl. 1, 2
7
Ob.
Bsn.
**
B Cl. 1, 2
B. Cl.
**
A. Sx. 1, 2
T. Sx.
**
B. Sx.
**
B Tpt. 1, 2
*
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
*
Tuba
Timp.
improvise soft "insect noise" sounds on various
different percussion instruments - be creative!
Perc. 1
improvise soft "insect noise" sounds on various
different percussion instruments - be creative!
Perc. 2
improvise soft "insect noise" sounds on various
different percussion instruments - be creative!
Perc. 3
improvise soft "insect noise" sounds on various
different percussion instruments - be creative!
Perc. 4
improvise soft "insect noise" sounds on various
different percussion instruments - be creative!
7
8
** move/click keys randomly as if imitating distant night-time critters;
improvise subtle dynamic swells
9
10
11

Fl. 1, 2
Ob.
Bsn.
12
a2
Flickers - Tedrow (page 3)
a2
B Cl. 1, 2
a2
B. Cl.
A. Sx. 1, 2
**
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
B Tpt. 1, 2
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
Tuba
*
*
Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Perc. 4
12
13
14
15
16
17

Fl. 1, 2
Ob.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1, 2
B. Cl.
A. Sx. 1, 2
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
B Tpt. 1, 2
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
Tuba
Perc.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Perc. 4
18
20
a2
18
19
20
Flickers - Tedrow (page 4)
3
3
3
a2
3
3
3
3
3
a2
3
3
3
3
3
Timpani
21
Toms
Snare Drum
Bass Drum
22
Cue Track 2
Chimes
23

Fl. 1, 2
Ob.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1, 2
B. Cl.
A. Sx. 1, 2
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
24
Flickers - Tedrow (page 5)
28
***
***
B Tpt. 1, 2
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
Tuba
Timp.
improvise soft "insect noise" sounds on various
different percussion instruments - be creative!
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Perc. 4
24
25
26
27
*** play indicated note in random rhythmic patterns; vary articulations, dynamics, and
speed as if mimicking the flashing patterns of fireflies slowly emerging from the ground;
don't trust them - they have evil intentions...
improvise soft "insect noise" sounds on various
different percussion instruments - be creative!
improvise soft "insect noise" sounds on various
different percussion instruments - be creative!
improvise soft "insect noise" sounds on various
different percussion instruments - be creative!
improvise soft "insect noise" sounds on various
different percussion instruments - be creative!
28
29
30

Flickers - Tedrow (page 6)
Fl. 1, 2
31
***
Ob.
***
Bsn.
***
B Cl. 1, 2
***
B. Cl.
A. Sx. 1, 2
T. Sx.
***
B. Sx.
B Tpt. 1, 2
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
***
***
Tuba
Perc.
Timpani
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Bass Drum
37
Perc. 4
31
32
33
34
35
36

Fl. 1, 2
Ob.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1, 2
B. Cl.
A. Sx. 1, 2
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
B Tpt. 1, 2
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
Tuba
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Perc. 4
39
38
a2
Toms
Snare Drum
38
39
Flickers - Tedrow (page 7)
40
Cue Track 3
Chimes
41
a2
3
3
3
a2
a2
3
3
a2
42
43

Fl. 1, 2
Ob.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1, 2
B. Cl.
A. Sx. 1, 2
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
B Tpt. 1, 2
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
Tuba
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Perc. 4
44
44
3
3
3
3
45
3
Flickers - Tedrow (page 8)
accel.
48 = 132 The Feast
46
47
48
49

Fl. 1, 2
Ob.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1, 2
B. Cl.
A. Sx. 1, 2
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
50
a2
Cue Track 4
Flickers - Tedrow (page 9)
a2
B Tpt. 1, 2
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
Tuba
a2
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Perc. 4
50
Cabasa
Ratchet
Vibraslap
51
52
Xylophone
53
54
Toms
Snare Drum
Bass Drum
(on rim)
55

Fl. 1, 2
Ob.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1, 2
B. Cl.
A. Sx. 1, 2
T. Sx.
56
3
a2
3
Flickers - Tedrow (page 10)
60
a2
B. Sx.
3
B Tpt. 1, 2
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
Tuba
3
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Perc. 4
56
57
58
59
60
61

Flickers - Tedrow (page 11)
Fl. 1, 2
Ob.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1, 2
B. Cl.
A. Sx. 1, 2
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
B Tpt. 1, 2
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
Tuba
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Perc. 4
62
62
63
a2
Cue Track 5
Glockenspiel
64
a2
66
67
68
65

Fl. 1, 2
Ob.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1, 2
B. Cl.
A. Sx. 1, 2
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
69
a2
3
3
3
Flickers - Tedrow (page 12)
Cue Track 6
(audio only)
B Tpt. 1, 2
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
Tuba
a2
a2
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Perc. 4
69
3
70
71
72
Xylophone
73
74
75

Fl. 1, 2
Ob.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1, 2
B. Cl.
A. Sx. 1, 2
76
a2
Flickers - Tedrow (page 13)
3
a2
3
3
3
3
3
3
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
B Tpt. 1, 2
Hn.
a2
3
3
3
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
Tuba
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Perc. 4
76
77
78
Glockenspiel
3
79
80
3
81

Flickers - Tedrow (page 14)
Fl. 1, 2
Ob.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1, 2
B. Cl.
A. Sx. 1, 2
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
82
3
3
B Tpt. 1, 2
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
Tuba
3
3
3
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Cabasa
Ratchet
Perc. 4
82
83
Xylophone
84
85
86
87

Fl. 1, 2
Ob.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1, 2
B. Cl.
A. Sx. 1, 2
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
B Tpt. 1, 2
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
Tuba
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Perc. 4
88
Cue Track 7
sub.
88
89
Snare Drum
Flickers - Tedrow (page 15)
90
Toms
90
91
92
93
Suspended Cymbal

Flickers - Tedrow (page 16)
Fl. 1, 2
Ob.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1, 2
B. Cl.
A. Sx. 1, 2
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
B Tpt. 1, 2
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
Tuba
94
a2
rit.
= 92
100 = 132
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Perc. 4
94
95
97
Chimes
98
99
100
96

Flickers - Tedrow (page 17)
Fl. 1, 2
101
Cue Track 8
****
Ob.
****
Bsn.
B Cl. 1, 2
****
B. Cl.
A. Sx. 1, 2
****
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
B Tpt. 1, 2
****
****
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
Tuba
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Perc. 4
a2
a2
****
101
102
103
104
105
106
**** play indicated note in random rhythmic patterns; vary articulations, dynamics, and
speed as if mimicking the flashing patterns of evil fireflies; slowly dissipate over time like
fireflies returning to the ground

Fl. 1, 2
107
Flickers - Tedrow (page 18)
rit. al fine
fireflies descend back into the ground
*****
Ob.
*****
Bsn.
*****
B Cl. 1, 2
B. Cl.
*****
A. Sx. 1, 2
T. Sx.
B. Sx.
*****
B Tpt. 1, 2
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
******
Euph.
******
Tuba
Timp.
improvise soft "insect noise" sounds on various
different percussion instruments - be creative!
Perc. 1
improvise soft "insect noise" sounds on various
different percussion instruments - be creative!
Perc. 2
improvise soft "insect noise" sounds on various
different percussion instruments - be creative!
Perc. 3
improvise soft "insect noise" sounds on various
different percussion instruments - be creative!
Perc. 4
improvise soft "insect noise" sounds on various
different percussion instruments - be creative!
107
108
***** key clicks, as before; improvise subtle dynamic swells;
slowly dissipate over time like fireflies returning to the ground
109
110
****** slap tongue, as before; improvise subtle dynamic swells;
slowly dissipate over time like fireflies returning to the ground
111

Fl. 1, 2
112
Flickers - Tedrow (page 19)
individuals slowly fade out at
different times into nothingness
(wait for audio to
fade out completely)
Ob.
Bsn.
B Cl. 1, 2
*****
B. Cl.
A. Sx. 1, 2
*****
T. Sx.
*****
B. Sx.
B Tpt. 1, 2
Hn.
Tbn. 1, 2
Euph.
******
******
Tuba
******
Timp.
Perc. 1
Perc. 2
Perc. 3
Perc. 4
112
113
114 115
116
117