Closet Full of Demons

Instrumentation and Performance Notes

Instrumentation

Flute
Oboe
B-flat Clarinet
Bassoon (doubling low-pitched alarm clock)
F Horn (doubling 2 maracas)
C Trumpet (doubling 2 maracas)
Trombone
Percussion:

Percussion Instruments Needed

Marimba, 4 1/3 octaves
Crotales (high octave)
Concert Bass Drum
4 Tom Toms
2 Bongos
3 Roto Toms, High-Pitched (6”, 8”, 10”: pitch each drum so that the drums ring a little)
Medium Wood Block
Medium Sizzle Cymbal
2 Suspended Cymbals (medium and small)
Vibraphone (with working motor)

 Mallets, Sticks and Bows Needed

Cello Bow
4 Medium Yarn or Cord Mallets
4 Hard Yarn Mallets
2 Medium Rubber Mallets (for temple blocks)
2 Drumsticks

Piano (doubling amplified Jack in The Box, ratchet)
2 Violins (vln. 1 doubling medium-pitched alarm clock)
1 Viola
1 Violoncello (doubling high-pitched alarm clock)
1 Contrabass


Performance Notes

The alarm clocks used by violin 1, violoncello and bassoon need to be easy to turn on and off at specific times, and they need to be set before the piece begins so that the alarm goes off when the player flips the switch, releases the button, etc. They must not “tick” loudly. Battery operated alarm clocks and even electric alarm clocks work well for this purpose.