AsCent Composed or the Key Stage To or Key Stage Three Classroom by Keir C Craley
AsCent Notes rom the Composer AsCent is the culmination o a number o ideas and experiences, irst o hich as the need to compose exciting and challenging music or the classroom This piece attempts to put the Key Stage 2 or Key Stage budding musician into the musical orld o the Marvel Cinematic Universe or other similar big budget sci-i action adventure ilms Combining motor ostinati ith contextually more adventurous accompanying harmony my aim is to move the musical learning aay rom the sometimes tee and undemanding into something ith a little more musical bite As such AsCent should be playable by students rom Year 6 upards, either in its entirety as ritten live or to a backing track The title comes rom a recent light on the British Airays i60 on Brighton searont This is an almost hard sci-i sky-tether-esque oblate ellipsoid vieing pod that majestically raises its passenger s 5 eet above the Sussex coastline revealing a magniicent 60 degree panorama The capital A and C also represent the main tonal centres ound in the piece Finally the majority o the melodic contours rise in some ay AsCent is composed to be adaptable; there are parts in C and Bb I hear this as lute and trumpet but ith careul octave transpositions these could equally be or violin and clarinet There are also straightorard parts or bass guitar (also notated in tab) and keyboardsynthesiser aimed at students ho have taken loer end ABRSM or similar exams The piano part is aimed at the teacher Glockenspiels and xylophones ater 15 years o music teaching I have a love hate relationship ith these particularly the ormer! There s nothing better or creating an immediate access, inclusive sense o ensemble but nothing orse than the headache inducing sound o 28 pupils simultaneously preparing their on line or even 5 minutes AsCent has 2 glockenspiel and 2 xylophone parts, hich stay ithin a relatively small range and on the hite notes This should help acilitate as many students as possible joining in The percussion part could be shared by to students but is also just about playable by one Please eel ree to use hatever comes to hand, i you don t have a bass drum try a surdo No snare drum, perhaps a djembe The body percussion part as ell as being ashionable at the time o riting is another useul ay o including as many as possible in the music making Again please eel ree to adapt hat s ritten or better still encourage your young musicians to compose their on in response to the piece
In my on teaching I ould divide up the parts or AsCent roughly as ollos: C Part: 1 or 2 players doubling : 1 or 2 players doubling Glockenspiel 1: 5 players Glockenspiel 2: 5 players Xylophone 1: 5 players Xylophone 2: 5 players Body Percussion: or 5 perormers Percussion: 1 or 2 players KeyboardSynth: 1 player or 2 players sharing, 1 on each hand Piano: 1 player, probably but not necessarily, the music teacher Rhythmically AsCent is based around alternating time signatures o three-our and six-eight (representing the and 6 o the i60) ith a middle section (bar 57, letter D) in our-our Quaver equals quaver throughout I ould thereore suggest, rom a teaching perspective, that this pattern is introduced irst Teach your perormers to clap on the strong beats and then move to the body percussion patterns This ay hat might at irst seem an intimidating score rom the rhythmic perspective ith its ever changing time signatures ill soon become second nature This approach ill also help ith bars -5 here a to-our bar is also introduced A recording o AsCent can be ound at: soundcloudcom Keir C Craley AsCent, a piece or the classroom https:soundcloudcomkeir-c-craleyascent-apiece-or-the-classroom AsCent is dedicated to all music teachers everyhere never orget you do an amazing and vital job in schools throughout the country and beyond Keir C Craley London, December 2016 Mayor o London s Music Aard 2015 Fello, Teach Through Music Trinity Laban Conservatoire o Music and Dance 2015 2016 Music Teacher Advocate Music Excellence London 2016 2017
AsCent Composed or the Key Stage To or Key Stage Three Classroom by Keir C Craley C Part suggesting lute or violin suggesting trumpet or clarinet Glockenspiel 1 Glockenspiel 2 Xylophone 1 Xylophone 2 Body Percussion Percussion Bass Drum, Snare Drum Suspended Cymbal KeyboardSynthesiser String Sound, Synth Pad Sound Piano SCORE IN C Duration 2:06
Score in C C Part Glockenspiels 1 Glockenspiels 2 Xylophones 1 Xylophones 2 Body Percussion Percussion 6 6 6 j ΠΠ8 j ΠΠ8 j j j 8 - - 6 6 6 j ΠΠ8 j ΠΠ8 j j j 8 - - KeyboardSynth Fast and rhythmic q=152 j ΠA 6 6 6 8 J ΠΠ8 8 6 6 6 j ΠΠ8 j ΠΠ8 8 6 6 6 j ΠΠ8 j ΠΠ8 8 6 6 6 j ΠΠ8 j ΠΠ8 8 Legs Click Clap 6 6 6 j j j 8 J 8 8 J j j j J J 6 6 6 j j j 8 j j j 8 8 6 6 6 8 8 8 j j j - - j j j - - j j j - - - - - - - - Bass Drum String Sound ΠAsCent For KS2 or KS Classroom Ensemble 6 6 8 8 6 8 j j j - - j j j - - 6 6 6 j j j 8 8 8 - - j j j - - Fast and rhythmic q=152 A 6 6 6 8 8 8 j j j - - j j j - - Piano j j j - - 6 6 6 j j j 8 j j j 8 j j j 8 - - - - - - Con Ped Keir C Craley 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 C Part 7 6 6 8 6 6 8 8 8 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 6 - - - 6 6 6 J J J 8 8 8 8 6 6 6 6 j j j 8 - - 8 8 8 - Body 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 j j j - - j j j - - j j j - - j j j - - - - - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 KeybSynth 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 6 6 8 6 6 8 8 8 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 j j j - - - 6 6 6 6 j j j 8 j j j 8 j j j 8 j j j 8 - - - - - -
C Part 6 6 6 8 6 8 J ΠΠ8 J ΠΠ8 1 6 6 6 6 8 8 j ΠΠ8 j ΠΠ8 Body 6 6 6 8 6 8 J ΠΠ8 8 j ΠΠ6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 j ΠΠj ΠΠ6 6 6 6 8 - - 8 8 8 j j j - - j j j - - j j j KeybSynth 6 6 6 6 8 8 j ΠΠ8 j ΠΠ8 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 j ΠΠj ΠΠClick Clap 6 6 6 6 8 8 j j j 8 J J j j j 8 6 6 6 6 8 8 j j j 8 j j j 8 - - - - - - 6 6 6 6 8 8 J j j 8 - - J j j 8 6 6 8 6 6 8 8 8 j j j - - j j j 6 8 6 6 6 8 j 8 8 j j - - j j j 6 6 6 6 8 j j j 8 j j j 8 j j j 8 - - - - - - Legs 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
C Part B 6 8 6 8 6 8 6 8 20 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 6 6 6 6 8 8 8-8 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8-6 6 6 6 8 - - - j j j 8 - - J J 8 J 8 6 6 6 6 8 j j j 8 - - j j j 8 - - 8 - Body 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 J J Snare Drum 6 6 6 - - 6 8 J 8 J J J J 8 J J J J 8 6 6 6 6 - - 8 - - 8 8 8 j j j - - j j j - - j j j - - - - - - - - 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 KeybSynth 6 6 6 6 8 - - 8 8 8-6 6 6 6 8 - - 8 8 8 B 6 6 6 6 8 8 8 8 - - 6 6 6 6 8 j j j 8 j j j 8 j j j 8 - - - - - - - -
C Part 27 6 6 6 8 8 8 5 6 6 6 8 8 8 6 6 6 8 8 8 6 6 6 8 8 8 6 6 6 8 8 8 6 6 8 6 8 8 Body 6 6 6 8 8 8 6 - - 6 - - 6 - J J J 8 J 8 J J J J J 8-6 6 6 J J J 8 J J J 8 J J J 8 - - - - - - 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 KeybSynth 6 6 8 6 8 8 6 6 6 8 8 8 - - 6 6 8 8 6 8 6 6 6 8 8 8 j j j - - j j j - - j j j - -
6 C Part Body J ΠΠ6 2 6 2 8 j ΠJ ΠΠ8 j Π6 2 6 2 j ΠΠ8 8 j Πj ΠΠj Π6 2 6 2 j ΠΠ8 8 j Πj ΠΠj Π6 2 6 2 8 8 j ΠΠj Πj ΠΠj Π6 2 6 2 J ΠΠ8 8 j ΠJ ΠΠj Π6 2 6 2 8 8 j ΠΠj Πj ΠΠj ΠClick Clap 6 2 6 2 j j j 8 J J j j j 8 J J Legs Snare Drum 6 2 6 2 j j j 8 j j j 8 Bass Drum 6 2 6 2 8 8 j j j - - j j j - - Snare Drum Bass Drum - - - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 KeybSynth 6 2 6 2 J j j 8 - - J j j 8 - - 6 2 6 2 8 8 j j j - - j j j - - 6 2 6 2 j 8 8 j j - - j j j - - 6 2 6 2 j j j 8 j j j 8 - - - -
C Part C 9 6 8 6 8-6 8 7 6 6-6 8 8 8 6 6 6 8 8 8-6 6 6 8 8 8-6 6 - - - 6 j j j 8 8 8 - - J J J Body 6 6 6 j j j 8 8 8 - - j j j - - - 6 6 6 j j j 8 J J j j j 8 J J j j j 8 J J 6 6 6 8 8 8 m m m 6 6 6 8 8 8 - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 KeybSynth 6 6-6 8 8 8 6 6 6 j j j 8 8 8 - - j j j - - j j j - - C 6 6 6 8 8 8 j j j - - j j j - - - 6 6 6 j j j 8 j j j 8 j j j 8 - - - - - -
8 C Part 5 6 6 6 8 8 8 6 6 6 8 8 8 6 6 6 8 8 8 6 6 6 8 8 8 6 6 6 8 8 8 6 6 8 6 8 8 Body 6 - - 6 - - 6 - J J J 8 J 8 J J J J J 8-6 6 6 j j j 8 J J j j j 8 J J j j j 8 J J 6 6 6 8 8 8 m m m - - - - - - 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 0 KeybSynth 6 6 8 6 8 8 6 6 6 8 8 8 j j j - - j j j - - j j j - - 6 6 8 8 6 8 6 6 6 8 8 8 j j j - - j j j - - j j j - -
C Part Body 51 J ΠΠ6 2 6 2 8 j ΠJ ΠΠ8 j Π6 2 6 2 j ΠΠ8 8 j Πj ΠΠj Π6 2 6 2 j ΠΠ8 8 j Πj ΠΠj Π6 2 6 2 8 8 j ΠΠj Πj ΠΠj Π6 2 6 2 J ΠΠ8 8 j ΠJ ΠΠj Π6 2 6 2 8 8 j ΠΠj Πj ΠΠj Π6 2 6 2 j j j 8 J J j j j 8 J J 6 2 6 2 8 8 9 m 6 2 6 - - 2 8 8 j j j - - j j j - - - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 KeybSynth 6 2 6 2 J j j 8 - - J j j 8 - - 6 2 6 2 j j j 8 8 - - j j j - - j 6 2 6 2 j j 8 8 - - j j j - - 6 2 6 2 j j j 8 8 - - j j j - -
10 C Part D b Ó 57 b Ó Body Clap j Œ Ó j Ó j Œ J Œ Foot Stomp Suspended Cymbal Bass Drum b 1 m m m KeybSynth b Synth Pad Sound b m D b b b b b b b b b b b b m
C Part 62 11 Body j Œ J Œ j Œ J Œ 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 KeybSynth # b b b # # # # bn b Ó
12 C Part 67 Œ m m Body j Œ Œ J j Œ Œ J Legs Clap Click Ó b 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 KeybSynth b b b b b b b b b b b
C Part 72 Œ 1 b # Œ Ó Ó Ó Ó Body j Œ J Œ Ó j Œ J Œ Ó Foot Stomp (randomly but build) æ æ Suspended Cymbal b # # 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 KeybSynth <n ## # b b <n # # # # # # # #
1 C Part E 77 6 6 6 8 8 8 6 6 6 8 - j # 8 8 #- j - j 6 6 6 8 8 8 6 6 6 8 8 8 Body 6 - - 6 6 j j j 8 j j j 8 8 - - j j j - - 6 6 6 j j j 8 - - j j j 8 - - j j j 8 - - Click Clap 6 6 6 j j j 8 J J j j j 8 J J j j j 8 J J Legs Snare Drum 6 6 6 j j j 8 j j j 8 j j j 8 Bass Drum 6 6 6 8 8 8 j j j - j # j j j #- j j j j - j - - - 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 KeybSynth # 6 8 6 6 8 8 6 6 6 8 # 8 8 E j 6 6 6 j j 8 8 8 # # j j j j j j - - - - - - 6 6 6 j j j 8 j 8 8 - # j j # j # #- j j j j j -
C Part 8 F b b 6 6 6 8 8 J Œ Œ 8 15 m m 6 6 6 8 b 8 b j Œ Œ 8 m m Stick end o beater on metal, eg chair leg 6 6 6 8 8 J J J 8 J J Stick end o beater on metal, eg chair leg 6 6 6 8 8 J J J 8 J J Stick end o beater on metal, eg chair leg 6 6 6 8 8 J 8 J J J J Stick end o beater on metal, eg chair leg 6 6 6 8 8 J J J 8 J J Body 6 6 6 j j j 8 J J j j j 8 J J j j j 8 J J m 6 6 6 j j j 8 j j j 8 j Œ Œ 8 m 6-6 - - 6 8 8 8 j j j b J J J b Œ Œ J m - - - 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 KeybSynth bb m m 6 8 6 6 8 8 bb j Œ Œ 6 6 6 8 8 8 b b j Œ Œ F j 6 6 b b j 8 j b 8 b b j - - b - - j Œ Œ 6 8 6 6 6 8 8 8 j j j b b - - j j j b b- - j Œ Œ
16 C Part 89 6 6 6 J Œ Œ 8 Œ Œ 8 J Œ Œ 8 j Œ Œ 6 6 8 6 8 8 Œ Œ j Œ Œ 6 6 6 J 8 J J J J J J 8 J J J J J J 8 J J 6 6 6 J J J 8 J J J J J 8 J J J J J 8 J J 6 6 6 J 8 8 J J J J 8 J J J J J J J J J J 6 6 6 J J J 8 J J J J J 8 J J J J J 8 J J Body 6 6 6 j j j 8 J J j j j 8 J J j j j 8 J J j 6 6 6 Œ Œ 8 Œ Œ 8 j Œ Œ 8 6 8 6 6 8 8 j Œ Œ # Œ Œ j Œ Œ 0 2 2 KeybSynth String Sound j Œ j Œ Œ Œ 6 8 6 8 Œ Œ j Œ Œ 6 8 6 8 6 8 # # Œ Œ j Œ Œ 6 8 j Œ j Œ Œ Œ 6 8 6 6 8 8 Œ Œ j Œ Œ 6 6 6 8 ## Œ Œ 8 8 # j Œ Œ
C Part 95 6 J ΠΠ2 6 8 J ΠJ ΠΠ8 17 6 2 6 j ΠΠ8 8 j Πj ΠΠNormal end o beater 6 2 6 8 j ΠΠ8 Normal end o beater 6 2 6 8 8 j ΠΠNormal end o beater 6 2 8 j ΠΠ6 8 Normal end o beater 6 2 8 j ΠΠ6 8 Body 6 2 6 j j j 8 J J j j j 8 6 2 6 8 8 m m 6 2 6 8 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 KeybSynth 6 2 6 J j j 8 - - J j j 8 6 2 6 8 8 j j j - - j j j 6 2 6 j 8 8 j j - - J J J 6 2 6 8 8
18 C Part 6 2 8 J Œ J Œ 99 6 2 8 j Œ # j Œ 6 2 8 j Œ j Œ 6 2 8 j Œ j Œ 6 2 8 j Œ j Œ Body 6 2 8 j Œ j Œ Clap 6 2 8 J J j Œ Ó j Œ 6 2 8 æ 6 2 8 b û j Œ Foot Stomp Suspended Cymbal Bass Drum æ Œ j Œ 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 KeybSynth 6 2 8 - - # j Œ 6 2 8 - - b j Œ - 6-2 8 6 2 8 : ; # b b J Œ j Œ 22nd, 28th 29th December 2016 EastbourneLondon