Beth Anderson
New Mexico Swale
Year: 1995
Duration (in minutes): 8'39;
Difficulty: Medium (college/community)
Category: larger chamber ensembles - more than 4 players, mixed instrument ensemble, mixed instrument quintet
Instruments: cello, flute, percussion, viola, violin
Description: Commissioned/premeried by Music Under Construction. Evocative of the various regions of NM. Includes some percussion improvisation. (A swale is a meadow or a marsh where a lot of wild plants grow together. The composer discovered the word when a horse named Swale won the Kentucky Derby several years ago. Since her work is primarily collage of newly composed musical swatches, she has used the name extensively.)