Instrumentation

flute
bass clarinet
trombone
vibraphone
piano
violin
violoncello
electronics (ableton live)

Duration: ca. 9m30s
Year of Composition: 2024

Program Notes

The term “glass cannon” comes from role-playing games where the player has direct control over the stats or “build” of their character. Glass cannons possess incredible offensive capability at the detriment of their defenses; a highly volatile, extremely fragile piece of equipment. Those of us playing as glass cannons typically partner up with others playing in support roles – tanks who absorb the damage that would shatter us, and healers who put us back together when we’ve fallen apart – who’s strengths compensate for our weaknesses, and vice-versa.

But enough about video games. Glass Cannon was composed as part of the ACTOR (Analysis, Creation, Teaching of Orchestration) project. From the outset, I wanted to create a piece that explored timbral and orchestrational possibilities within a highly rhythmic context, combining my love for groove with the objective of ACTOR. Glass Cannon explores the relationship between fragility and ferocity, clarity and cacophony.

Perusal Score