by Thom Hasenpflug
4 players
Instrumentation: Crotales (2 octaves), Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, Drums (snare drum, floor tom, 6 concert toms, bass drum, bongos, , Cymbals & gongs (ride cymbal, crash cymbal, splash cymbal, hi-hat, china cymbal, medium tam tam), Accessories (sandpaper blocks, coffee can, 4 iron skillets, 2 brake drums 2 brake drums, 3 almglocken, triangle, 3 cowbells, 2 woodblocks, maracas)
“Smoke and Mirrors” is a metaphor that suggests we are constantly deceived by distractions and tricks and thus prevented from seeing a larger truth. In Thom Hasenpflug's Smoke and Mirrors, the symbolism of the expression is reflected in the mirror image instrumentation, alternating densities, and rhythmic displacements (which either add to obfuscation or provide clarity).
The style of this advanced quartet is intended to reminisce Hasenpflug's early 90’s piece Bicksa, though this piece is twice as long and has keyboard instrumentation to provide textural contrast. Smoke and Mirrors was composed in 2014 for Nebojsa Zivkovic and Ensemble Schlagwerk Wien and will provide a satisfying challenge for collegiate and pro-level artists.
Smoke and Mirrors is provided as a professionally bound folio and ships with a CD-ROM containing individual parts and an audio reference recording.
