Sketches of Ghosts

Sketches of Ghosts by Andrew May
For Solo Piccolo

In Sketches of Ghosts a simple melody unfolds slowly, each phrase a long breath. Its simplicity is obscured by dense ornamentation improvised by the performer based on an open notation. The old proverb says that it is easier to draw a ghost than a horse. On the other hand, it’s much harder to actually summon the ghost… but it’s worth trying.

A related workk, “A Room Full of Ghosts” uses the same score but also includes a live interactive computer accompaniment that provides further levels of ornamentation in time, timbre, and space, and adds percussion and wind sounds. As in much music of the Arab world, many voices (in this case, coming from invisible piccolos – some of them very large) interpret the same line at the same time, creating a chorus of phantom performers. Information and download link for using this piece with computer is included in the publication when purchased.