For Symphony Orchestra, Concert Band
Written for the USC Student Symphony Orchestra Call for Scores
Composed: 2023
Duration: 6.5'
London is often near the top of anyone's list when discussing cities with a world-class public transit system. If you consider the city's long and colorful history, it becomes quickly evident that London's public transit system, especially its Underground subway and above- ground rail network, is also one of the oldest in the world. But very few outside of those residing within its 5 "Zones" can truly comprehend the scale and complexity of this massive infrastructure.
I've always been fascinated by the human mind's attempt to comprehend and rationalize a conceptual system of such complexity. Whether it be the London Underground, New York's Metro, or even the flight network that enables air travel worldwide, there's an industrial majesty to these systems with unfathomably numerous moving parts. A network of people and machines that come together to enable the movement of people and goods, each part working in precise harmony to achieve a holistic goal. This interpretation of public transport is what I've tried to capture in Transit Systems.
A vast majority of Transit Systems relies heavily on the groove provided by the drum set. Thus, the drum set should be positioned where the entire orchestra can hear it clearly at all times. Additionally, the dynamics written for the drum set should be interpreted with its central role within the orchestra in mind. The conductor should use their full discretion in making sure that the beat of the drum set is always prominent (but NOT overpowering). Some passages where the beat begins pianissimo or the pedal bass drum is instructed to "sneak in" should be executed so that it's difficult to determine where the beat exactly began.