The Troll Variations
for a soloist
by
Tom Duff
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Instructions

This piece is for a soloist playing any instrument.

Alternate sections are marked Say and Play. The Say sections are spoken or sung to an improvised tune in a stentorian and condescending manner, as a traffic court judge lecturing a recidivist speeder. Read as though the text makes perfect sense, even though its grammar and meaning may make sudden, unexpected turns.

The Play sections use an ordinary five-line staff with oval note heads () interspersed with diamond () and cross () note heads. Play in a manner that contrasts with the lecturer's attitude. Be mocking or solicitous or calm or resigned or anything else appropriate.

You can play in concert with other performers, who may play other versions of this piece, or other any other materials, composed or improvised. When playing with others, the Say sections should be performed as disruptively as possible, and the Play sections should be played sensitively, with utmost regard to enhancing the performance of the other players.

Score

Say: Why should I? I haven't been discussing the issue that I turned on you?

Play:


Say: Note: no response.

Play:


Say: It was the lack of serious music for concert bands. Professional groups of either kind shouldn't sound irritating, though I'm sure that some of those uses have been in response to Professor Plum, you've demonstrated that you don't want to reconsider your own question.

Play:






Say: Gosh, just like Pudge. I said the theme is not that it's too long for its own good. Have you ever played "Bolero"? It's the same one that Rachmaninoff used for the "Rhapsody" (note that the discussion is occurring.

Play:








Say: Non sequitur.

Play:


Say: You're mixing comparisons, just like the Bartok! I said that the my discussion belongs there? I was discussing an American composer of classical music. Based on the wrong person. Interesting that you are mistaken, and you haven't changed your antagonistic attitude.

Play:






Say: Not necessarily. Bolero must be sufficient to justify the title.

Play:


Say: There's at least some of the discussion, apparently without even being familiar with the piece, shows an interesting bias on your part.

Play:




Say: What good would that do? I've told you to check out the PBS video of the recent transcriptions I've listened to the latter, as the object of the meeting I was the lack of a larger number of times you've played it.

Play:








Say: Witness the number of musicians sitting on the concert band". Apparently you have a logical response. Obviously it was John Doe writes [to Professor Plum]:

Play:




Say: That's because the trombone section didn't get as lovely a solo as the "Armenian Dances" (both Parts I and II), and "El Camino Real"? Philip Sparke's "Music for a New Era" is wonderful. And for a New Era" is wonderful. And for a Festival" is another favorite. For a short opener, Jack Stamp's "Fanfare for a closer or encore, Paul Hart's "Cartoon" is delightful.

Play:












Say: On what basis do you make that claim?

Play:


Say: Where did I say it was "good"?

Play:


Say: Such as? (Just trying to take this discussion to refer to. Furthermore, who do you make that claim? Have you ever played "Bolero"? It's the same subthread.

Play:






Say: But you can make lemonade out of strikes.

Play:


Say: OT could mean "on topic", or "overtime" for that evidence.

Play:




Say: Yes.

Play:


Say: Note your irrelevancy.

Play:


Say: Incorrect; my justification is that it's shorter than Bartok's "Concerto for Orchestra", to which I'm replying: Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2001 17:44:38 -0400 Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2001 17:44:38 -0400 Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2001 18:06:14 -0400 Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2001 17:35:27 -0400 Now, let's look at the bottom of the parenthetical remark.

Play:












Say: Classic pontification.

Play:


Say: Clearly you are not meant to be "masterworks".)

Play:


Say: Classic pontification.

Play:


Say: The source is also incorrect. How gullible you are.

Play:


Say: On what basis do you call it "crap"? Don't trot out the irony to you, but it should be.

Play:




Say: Wasn't Malcolm Arnold vice president for a closer or encore, Paul Hart's "Cartoon" is delightful.

Play:




Say: What "name"?

Play:


Say: Jazz is not too long.

Play:


Say: Then what is your point with regard to the work?

Play:


Say: Illogical; we haven't performed the Warren Barker arrangement of "Phantom of the discussion, apparently without even being familiar with an example of one.

Play:








Say: Jazz is not apt.

Play: