The Coast

The progression through this section follows a familiar musical “storm” format, from crashing loud percussion symbolizing thunder, with cymbals as lightning strikes, to gentle rhythmic rain. Besides tympani, snare drum (without snare initially), and cymbals, this section leverages roto-toms — a collection of small drums which can be pitched for interesting effects.

But it’s all abstract — this is, after all, music, and the transitions and flow serve musical purposes, especially the motif-based “self-similarity” of all of the composition’s sections. The motif in the beginning of this section, introduced solely as rhythm by the percussionists, is briefly picked up by the strings. Its derivation from the opening section’s themes is then clarified later in the section, only to appear more formally to open the next, 3rd section, “Boardwalk,” which follows immediately on this one.

After disappearing halfway through the previous section, the harp returns to add color to the “rain” at the end of this section.

Note: this excerpt starts and ends abruptly, and is, of course, subject to change!

Go to Section 3: Boardwalk
Go to The Coast project home page.