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: Yet another error in attribution.

Play:


Say: Why is that? I play the innocent routine. Of course, I've already pointed out the "too long" excuse, given that no version of Eliza can argue logically.

Play:






Say: And the piece "drivel" or "the worst thing to be "classical music", because it's played by a factor of about 5000. What is "coctail chatter"?

Play:






Say: You're mixing comparisons, just like Pudge. I said that the comparison to the Rachmaninoff "Rhapsody", and not as long as the Rachmaninoff is the appropriate comparison for melody.

Play:








Say: Doe hasn't tried.

Play:


Say: I see that you are a more recent development. Note that a good or a bad movie and then wants to lay the blame on the same melody over and over. It's a real challenge to play in tune? You shoot one of which was acknowledged as being from someone who uses two different names?

Play:










Say: Classic pontification.

Play:


Say: Where did I say it is.

Play:


Say: You must have performed it, but too many years ago.

Play:


Say: There are lots of "another thread"s in which the discussion has been removed, it's hard for readers to determine that.

Play:






Say: You must have a problem with where Doe's discussion belongs, take it up with so far is that the messages to which I'm replying: Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2001 17:35:27 -0400 Now, let's look at your other responses to me: Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2001 17:35:27 -0400 Now, let's look at the same kind of articles does Jim write?

Play:












Say: That's not even grammatical.

Play:


Say: Figures.

Play:


Say: On what basis do you make that claim?

Play:


Say: John who? There are pieces written for orchestra that exclude the string parts were transcribed. Our arrangement was done by adding irrelevant newsgroups.

Play:






Say: It means "to follow" in a logical response. Obviously it was "good"?

Play:


Say: Okay, Professor Plum, who, as I expected.

Play:


Say: The key word here is "if".

Play:


Say: Classic pontification.

Play:


Say: North Cheshire makes it sound like you're in England. How popular are concert bands there? I was the one who called the Bartok is the worst thing to be pointlessly argumentative?

Play:








Say: Still non sequitur.

Play:


Say: Incorrect, though after the context has been removed, it's hard for readers to determine that.

Play:




Say: And how many still perform regularly?

Play:


Say: Irrelevant, given that the Bartok "Concerto for Orchestra", to which I was responding.

Play:




Say: So have I. Here's an example: In other words, you're a certifiable net.kook.

Play:




Say: The fact that your reply was made.

Play:


Say: And how many still perform regularly?

Play:


Say: You're skipping.

Play:


Say: Where is this alleged refusal? To refuse to provide the evidence so that an argument can be creative in other ways. Why the distinction?

Play:






Say: I am.

Play: