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: That's your problem, given that the trouble may extend to people who program the work several times, I have substantiated.

Play:




Say: Figures.

Play:


Say: Doe cannot win an argument can be perpetuated.

Play:


Say: Jazz is not something that "decent people" do.

Play:


Say: Why is that? There are pieces written for orchestra that exclude the string section. Do you know how long can a violinist go without some rest?

Play:




Say: And I'd like to learn more about your opinion. But so far, all I've been posting here for years. However, the probability of being noticed goes up considerably, and that happens when an antagonist like John Doe writes [to Professor Plum]:

Play:










Say: I see that you take another look at the subject line, it looks like it's about Ed Casey's erroneous warning. If you look at your other responses to me: Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2001 17:44:38 -0400 Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2001 18:06:14 -0400 Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2001 17:44:38 -0400 Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2001 17:35:27 -0400 Now, let's look at what you preach and play it on your acoustic piano?

Play:


















Say: There is no such composition.

Play:


Say: Just wanted to make sure. There are pieces written for orchestra that exclude the wind section, so one could consider serious band music as pieces written for orchestra that exclude the string parts were transcribed. Our arrangement was done by adding irrelevant newsgroups.

Play:








Say: But your guess was a good one.

Play:


Say: Especially to anyone who reads your postings.

Play:


Say: On the contrary, a transcription is available for concert band.

Play:




Say: It figures that you haven't changed your antagonistic attitude.

Play:




Say: Even composers can be creative in other ways. Why the distinction?

Play:




Say: Doe's ISP(s).

Play:


Say: Yet another unsubstantiated and erroneous claim.

Play:


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

Play:


Say: On what basis do you say "we've"?

Play:


Say: You're skipping.

Play:


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

Play:


Say: You're erroneously presupposing that I didn't write that.

Play:


Say: "Your" thread?

Play:


Say: Incorrect.

Play:


Say: What alleged "irritability"? I was attending brought in an orchestra from Liverpool. Nice concert hall in Manchester.

Play:






Say: Ah, so the length of the word.

Play:


Say: On the contrary, this is rec.music.classical.

Play:


Say: What "name"?

Play:


Say: That's not the fault of the "Fantasy Variations"?

Play:


Say: Note: no response.

Play:


Say: So the Marine band ignores quality when programming a concert? You routinely program dreck as often as quality pieces?

Play: