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Nocturne for Dice

Improvisation for Open Ensemble, Dice, and Poker Table


Program Notes

This improvisational work is heavily inspired by the experimental composers and minimalists of the 20th century American school. Each player, on an instrument/voice of their choosing, simply rolls the 12-sided dice in front of them to determine which pitch to play in the chromatic scale. Upon the dice revealing their pitch to them, they are free to improvise on that pitch, choosing for themselves the octave, timbre, technique, rhythms, and any other variables they wish to employ. As each player takes “their turn” and rolls the dice, a unique landscape unfolds that is ever-changing and completely dependent upon the performers to create as interesting a “game” as possible.

Preview Score



DVLB 01-1051


Open Instrumentation

Length: as long as found necessary

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ASCAP# 894289502


Further Information

For all inquiries regarding this piece, please reach me at inquiries@zachdaniels.com and mention the score name you are interested in.