5 Songs in the Age of Stupidity by John Max McFarland pulls five of his favorite snippets from his The 365 Stupidest Things Ever Said Page-A-Day Calendar and sets them to music through two percussionists an a mezzo-soprano vocalist.
The music itself is contemporary and obscure, programmatically written to utilize a wide gamut of instruments, including noisemakers and toys (some of which are played by the vocalist). You'll need a sibling or some internet searching to find the required Tickle Me Elmo doll.
This piece stretches the comfort level for everybody involved, and anybody who programs this very interesting and quirky piece will need to feel ok with some heavy theatrics on the stage.
Difficulty: Advanced
Duration: 7:20
Instrumentation:
- Percussion 1:
- Xylophone, Vibraphone, Finger Cymbal
- Mark Tree, Temple Blocks (5), Concert Snare Drum
- Concert Toms (4), Loose Cymbal for Dropping
- Small Splash/Sizzle/Hi Hat Cymbals
- Percussion 2:
- 5.0 Octave Marimba, Crotales (2 Octaves), Wood Block
- Concert Bass Drum, Bongos, Congas (2)
- Tambourine, Large Concert Tom, Tam-Tam
- Trash-Hat, Sizzle Cymbal, 3-4 Pairs of Loose Drumsticks
- Mezzo-Soprano:
- Ratchet, Slide Whistle, Acme Siren
- Flexatone, Vibraslap, Opera Gong
- Bike Horn, Party Blower, Train Whistle
- 10-Hole Harmonica in Bb Major, Electrolarynx (Optional)
- Metal Mixing Bowl with Water, Tickle Me Elmo Doll (Not Optional)
5 Songs in the Age of Stupidity comes in a fully bound score with a CD containing individual parts for printing.
