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Notes for The Lotus Girl This CD features pieces which were originally composed for acoustic instruments. Here they have been transcribed for my first midi computer music system. The Lotus Girl (vibraphones) is a new name I gave to Symphony No 2, originally scored for full orchestra. It is a highly contrapuntal work with four contrasting movements The vibraphones used here clearly delineate the individual voices. Demesne (clarinet and harpsichord) is the last piece I wrote for acoustic instruments. Soon after, I acquired my pre-midi computer music system. This is a playful, melodic piece which was originally for alto saxophone and piano. I had the opportunity to hear Lee Konitz and Harold Danko sightread Demesne in Lee’s Manhattan apartment in 1984. Evening (vibraphones) is an introspective composition originally written for piano. Kapalua (vibraphones) is a landmark composition for myself. It features a highly contrapuntal texture which I had used previously, but also includes a greater use of silence for individual parts. This greater variety of texture includes passages with only one or two voices. Kapalua is Hawaiian for “arms reaching out to the sea”, describing the physical shape of a favorite place of mine in Maui. Long Island City (glockenspiels) is named for the city I lived in from 1982 to 1984. It lies directly across the East River in Queens, with unmatched views of Manhattan. I used to jog alongside the river in the morning, enjoying the views, including a giant geyser shooting water high into the air. This piece was recorded by Julliard students, and was originally scored for flute, clarinet and viola. The Green Hill (vibraphones) was originally scored for oboe and contrabassoon. It is a spare composition with an emphasis on space and restraint. - Michael Robinson, Lahaina, December 2000
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