Black Angels (Crumb) - Instrumentation

Instrumentation

Black Angels is primarily written (in unusual and very detailed notation) for (in Crumb's words) "electric string quartet." Though generally played by amplified acoustic instruments, the work is occasionally performed on specially constructed electronic string instruments. The music uses the extremes of the instruments' registers as well as extended techniques such as bowing on the fingerboard above the fingers and tapping the strings with thimbles. At certain points in the music, the players are even required to make sounds with their mouths and to speak.

Each of the string players is also assigned a set of instruments to play throughout the piece. Some of the equipment requires specific preparation, such as the crystal glasses, which are tuned with different amounts of water.

Violin 1

• maraca
• 7 crystal glasses
• 6" glass rod
• 2 metal thimbles
• metal pick (paper clip)

Violin 2

• 15" suspended tam-tam and mallet
• contrabass bow (for use on tam-tam)
• 7 crystal glasses
• 6" glass rod
• 2 metal thimbles
• metal pick (paper clip)

Viola

• 6 crystal glasses
• 6" glass rod
• 2 metal thimbles
• metal pick

Cello

• maraca
• 24" suspended tam-tam, soft and hard mallets
• contrabass bow