Orchestra Right from the Start Level 1 Americani Echoes Composition 1: Disclapping Music Pentatonism and tonality Body Percussion Meter 6/4 and non metric form Polyrhythm Dynamic Modularity Multileveled writing Cultural reference: US minimalism This piece has been composed for students in the initial stages of their musical experiences, because its main objective is the progressive approach to reading and, in the meantime, it helps these young musicians to pursue individual confidence, listening skills and control of their performance in relation to the other performers. The composition is developed from a non-metric pattern of 12 units (8 sounds and 4 rests) inspired after Clapping Music by Steve Reich, re-invented melodically and harmonically in several sections. The representation of the notes and rests with dots of different sizes in the initial measure is intended to promote oral learning and facilitate the orientation of the student towards non-percussive sounds. The use of the different sections in a modular way makes the piece flexible to the needs of the teacher and the instrumental group with which he is working. (e.g. complete A-B-C-D-E-F-G, or A-B-C-G, more simply B-C-G, or B-C-F-G ...). Directions for execution Sections A and B constitute an accumulative introduction with the transformation from an indeterminate sound to a specific note. Section A can be performed as body percussion, clapping, or percussion on instruments. In section B there is the progressive passage in unison on the G, conducted with free repetitions by the conductor. This transformation can, for example, be structured with a double signal: the first signal indicating suspension of the clapping/body percussion and preparation on the instrument; the second signal indicating the beginning of the cycle on the G. In sections C and D, two related pentatonic phrases come to rest on a tonal harmonic succession. Section E proposes a melody which, borrowed from the previous model, moves towards tonality. Section F stands as a moment of rupture and represents the point of greatest complexity in the piece. There are two interesting elements: the transition to metric rhythm (6/4) and a new pentatonic melody with new difficulties. The chroma = chroma equivalence can be a valuable aid in the transition to the meter. The last section, G, is the finale in which the unison of section B is repeated, allowing students to focus their attention on the dynamic crescendo. 11