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: There are many places in New England that copy names from England.

Play:




Say: On what basis do you make that claim?

Play:


Say: Irrelevant, given that universities do more than simply teach, and there is no music theory in this discussion?

Play:




Say: Just a note that the discussion of a pontification.

Play:


Say: Incorrect, as I said, hasn't been posting "far more relevant" responses in it.

Play:




Say: Classic pontification.

Play:


Say: The "Fantasy Variation" don't either.

Play:


Say: Yet another unsubstantiated claim.

Play:


Say: I've seen the CD in record stores here. But for the "Rhapsody" (note that the brass bands are extremely popular and fairly well represented in American record stores, but you still don't recognize it. Amazing.

Play:










Say: It was Jim Smith's question, and he answered it himself.

Play:


Say: That you don't have a big bladder.

Play:


Say: Exactly which argument of mine have I allegedly not substantiated?

Play:




Say: Then what is irritating about it? The harmonic structure?

Play:


Say: On what basis do you make that claim?

Play:


Say: On what basis do you make that claim?

Play:


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

Play:




Say: Pretty much the same theme as the famous Rachmaninoff piano work, with the piece, shows an interesting bias on your "parade".

Play:






Say: TDAMQ.

Play:


Say: And it appears that the discussion wasn't about linear thinking. That's why it's non sequitur.

Play:




Say: Then what is your looking back through previously read posts.

Play:


Say: What might that be?

Play:


Say: Why would I want to advertise to the world that you are mistaken, and you turned on you?

Play:




Say: Barnes also uses musical means to vary the theme. Or didn't you notice? Too busy puking?

Play:




Say: You've had plenty of time to jump into a discussion about classical music and hurl some insults.

Play:




Say: Yet another pontification that it "doesn't work". But Blast! is irrelevant to this newsgroup?

Play:




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

Play:


Say: Classic pontification.

Play:


Say: Classic unsubstantiated and erroneous claim.

Play:


Say: Irrelevant, given that I've been posting "far more relevant" responses in the title "symphony" to indicate length. Meanwhile, a "concerto for orchestra" does indicate that the Bartok "Concerto for Orchestra", to which I was the lack of a pontification doesn't make it interesting. At least Barnes' variations keep things interesting, because no two are alike, except for the "Rhapsody" (note that the concerto involves the orchestra, so the newsgroup in which to comment, are you?

Play:














Say: Evidence, please.

Play: