Minutes to Midnight

(for unaccompanied solo violin)

Michael Young
May 2010
Duration: 5 mins

Composition Notes for Minutes to Midnight:

(for unaccompanied solo violin)
Program Notes:
The doomsday clock is the symbolic clock face that represents how close the world is
to global disaster. The closer the minute hand of symbolic clock reaches midnight
(12am), the closer the world is to global disaster. Initially, the doomsday clock was
used throughout the Cold War period to illustrate how close the world was to
succumbing to the threat of global nuclear war. In recent times, the doomsday clock is
also used to reflect the emerging threats of climate change, as well as new
developments in life sciences and nano-technology that can potentially serve as threat
to humanity.
As of January 14, 2010, the Doomsday clock is at six minutes to midnight.
Composition Notes:
This piece has been written in moment form, with each moment represents the clock
taking one step closer to midnight. Each moment represents a gradual increase in
tension and agitation to the point where these tensions reach boiling point, and
midnight has been reached. The whole concept of this ever occurring is so absurd and
chilling, that the reality that the world having twice coming within two minutes of
atomic doomsday is incredibly scary as part of the generations of people born into the
world after these two incidents.
This piece reflects the fears that we all hold in an uncertain present and future, with
new emerging threats just around the corner.

Minutes to Midnight
(for unaccompanied violin)
Michael Young

Agitated q = c. 72
Violin

U b
# n j # j

&

#
> n
mp
3
b

# >

j
#

& b
J
> v
f
p
mf
3

pizz.
battuto col legno arco

&

b U

mp 3

b b

>

fff
mf
hold for 5"

molto rall.
4

arco U

j
b

j
&
> b
J
R b b
#>
3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
U
5
B hold for 10"
#

A tempo

&
#n
5

ppp
fff

Disturbingly q = c. 54
col legno
b
U

U
b
pizz. 5
>

b
j

b j b nJ
&
J
> > b
ppp 3
p
f

mp3

battuto col legno

7

col legno

& b b
>
b

mf

p
Copyright 2010 Michael Young

mp 3

arco

&

mf

b # b b j
J
#

>
v
mp
p
3

hold for 10"

9

j U

>
pp
mf

&

j U

>
mp

>-

ppp

Eerily q = c. 60
10

&
3

pp
fff
11

^
J

&

b
J
mp

12

&

# b b
J

n
J

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ppp

# b

sul tasto
13

b
J

b
J

&

b
J
3
mp
hold for 10"
rall. nU

14
b
b # b
b
b

&
J

b
3

mp

silence for 4"

A tempo

rall.

15

b
J

b
J

12
16

&
3

ppp

Frantic e. = c. 144+
16

Ord.

12
& 16

. b

pp

# # b

17

# . - .

b

& . b . # b
pp

mp

19

bb >#> >
&

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mp

22

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>
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b

&
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mf

mp

mf

rall.
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b j
&
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2
2
f

25

4
4
ff

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rall.

b b

pp

Deathly q = 54
28

U
4
& 4

q = 40
32

sul pont.

U
b
b

&

pizz. 3

ppp

36

sul pont.

Ord.
silence for 60"

b
&

niente