Aswang

for harp and percussion

by
Abraham Fabella (2010)

Instrumentation:
Harp
Percussion (1 player):
Marimba, Vibraphone, Crotales, Tambourine, (5) Temple Blocks, (2) Cowbells (high and low), Floor Tom,
Mark Tree, Lion's Roar, Slapstick, Bamboo Wind Chimes (Small), Police (or Referee's) Whistle, Croaking
Frog (or any Rasp)

Program Note:
An "aswang" is a type of mythical creature in Filipino folklore similar to a vampire. Often used as a catch-all
phrase to describe evil spirits, this particular aswang represented in the piece is a shapeshifter, which is natural
considering the form is a kind of theme and free variations. It is also very seductive and sensual, qualities
which I attempt to exploit using the soothing timbre of the harp together and in contrast with the visceral
rhythmic quality and timbres of multiple percussion.
Near the end of the piece, the harp produces a metallic buzzing sound which is accomplished by placing the
pedal of a certain note in-between settings. This sound is an evocation of the "bungkaka," a type of Filipino
wooden buzzer meant to ward off evil spirits.

Aswang

Score

for harp and percussion

Duration: ca. 7'30"

Abraham Fabella (2010)

Andante meditativo q = 72

Harp

3
& 44

P
?4
4 w
w
>

&

MARIMBA
with soft mallets

Marimba

Vibraphone

Crotales

& 44 b .

& 44

& 44

# >

r
.
b

b b

b
6

F3

.
J
F
b ..

nb

>

b b J

J b

P
3

b
#
b

VIBRAPHONE
motor off with medium hard mallets
3

j
b
P

# . .

>

n
#
#

> .
b b

b #
# b
n
very articulated6
glissando
b

n
#

with medium hard mallets

b b #

6

b
3

.
J

w
>

34

3
4

34

J
5
3
p
with soft mallets U

J
p

34

34

Tambourine

44

34

Police Whistle
Cowbells
Floor Tom

44

3
4

Temple Blocks

44

34

Mark Tree
Croaking Frog
Lion's Roar

44

34

Slapstick
Bamboo Wind Chimes

44

34

.
3
# #
b b.

j
j
b.

Hp.

Tamb.

T. Bl.

L'istesso tempo; misterioso q = 72

j
3
& 4 b. b
p
?3

4
b

11

34

34

b.

j
b j

TAMBOURINE

. #
j
b b
J
3

b.

poco

J J
3

poco

#
b . j b b
3
p
P

J
p

>
J
P

2010 Fa Bella Music Publishers

All Rights Reserved

b
p

Allegro marcato q = 120

b
U

b b

2
4

2
4

f
b j
>

2
4

TEMPLE BLOCKS
with medium hard mallets

24 >

3
4

3
4

3
4

> 3
4

3
&4

Hp.

? 34

3
&4

2
4

34 J j 24

>
f

35

Mrb.

T. Bl.

.
2 b b ..
4
b
f
F
24 . b j
.
>

35

& b b j

59

Hp.

T. Bl.

&

Hp.

& b

Mrb.

Vib.

&

VIBRAPHONE
with hard mallets

&
f

b b b

34

3
4

molto f
24 b ..
.

2
4

cresc.

b
b

2
4

&

b o

> >
# >
#
>

...
.

# >
#
>

#
>

# # #
b b n #

...
.

#
#

J
#

gliss.

>

> gliss.

#
J

>

"white key" glissandi

n
J

b o

3
4

b o

34

b
>

b
>

b b b
J

J b

j b
b

&

&

bb

gliss.

gliss.

4
f
p.d.l.t.
4 b
4

morendo

&

G.P.

4
4

4
4

Largo, quasi fantasia q = 52

G.P.

Grotesque q = 108

n
#

b b b b b b b b b

with medium hard mallets

# b
b
n

#
#
3 b b # b
4
p
f
3

j
4

P
b
b

b
p

L'istesso tempo, con brio

J
J
p

b
j
J b b

p
>
# #
b
#

MARIMBA

>
# #

b b
J

b b b b b b b b b b
p

b ..
b b b b ..
p

> >
#

>
f

j
b b
>

o
o

b
P
o

.

34 24
J
J

J J J
p

74

b
b b b
J

&

74

b
? b J b b
&
b
j
b b
59

Mrb.

3
4

w
# ww
# w
p

freely

b
J 3

j
b

5
6

b b
b

MARIMBA with soft mallets

6
88

&

Hp.

?
88

Mrb.

&

88

Crt.

&

#
b

. J bb b

3
5
3
r j
J
P
#
b
b

b b

#
R
R
b b
J
b

ww

...
w
b.

meno p

&

b b

99

Hp.

Vib.

?
&
99

Crt.

Tamb.

&

j j

&

b b

p
? .

Tamb.

> .
J

P. W.
Cwbs.
Fl. T.

.
b

.
.

..
&

j j

118

Hp.

b
b bb

58
5
8

6
8

b


5

>
b
R

gradually more and more agitated and excitable

ww
w
w

b > ..

Molto vivace q.= 92

Presto q= 138

24

2
4

b b b J
f boldly

b b b J

quasi

w
# ww
# w

b
3

Largo senza rubato, ominous q = 52

dolce
P
U
j j j j
#
# #

j j

# .
.

.
.
J

b
P

j j

j j

# b
p

j j j j

b b

b b b

CROTALES
with hard or metal beater

b
J
p

J J
.

ww
w

5
8

6
8

5
8

6 .
8

poco

b
b

b b
p

b
b

6
8

5
8

6
8

68

68

.
J

58

6 TAMBOURINE
8 J J

b
J
b
J
3

b
f
b

pi

24 >
58 68 U .
J
J J J J J J J J J J
J
J
J J
molto
f
COWBELLS
with snare drum stick
U
58
68

24 J J J J J J J J J J J J J J J
play against thigh or hip

> b > #
#
b
b

b b

3
P3
p

b
p
Pedal down throughout

# #
#
p

6 .
8
# ww
# w
p

6
j
b

8 j .

VIBRAPHONE motor on (slow)

with soft mallet

68

j
b

b j
3

&

b
b

# b

b b

>
J J
J J J J J J
J
J
J

J J J J
J
J
J
J
J

58 68 .

sempre

# b

j ?
#

>
J

FLOOR TOM p sensuously

with snare
drum sticks
3

&

148

Hp.

P. W.
Cwbs.
Fl. T.

T. Bl.

b # b
>
f
b # b >

TEMPLE BLOCKS

b # b

b # b

#
>

b b
>
3

b.
b.

b j
Jb

#
3
3

four-note glissando

& b # b

Hp.

P. W.
Cwbs.
Fl. T.

? b # b

T. Bl.

M. T.
C. F.
L. R.

M. T.
C. F.
L. R.
S. St.
B.W.Chms.

& bbb

199

Hp.

34

lunga

3
4

34

TEMPLE BLOCKS
with medium hard mallets

p
P
F 5

J
3

CROAKING FROG

>

J

P dolce
3

J J
3
3

bb

b . n b
3

b # b

etc.

b # b

b # b

POLICE WHISTLE

b # b

b # b

b # b
ggg molto rapido
gg
b # b g

6
3
b b b j
j

j b b b b

3
p
P

.
.

l.v.

slow glissando down and up

b b . b .
3

b # b

MARK TREE

b # b

rapid glissandi; with abandon

b # b
gg
f gggg
gg
b # b

.
.

b J b

#
3

J J

.
.

3
b b b b b j
j
j .b b b

j j j

b .
b
b b n . b

.
3
P dancy
dim.

LION'S ROAR

U
U

knock on soundboard

34

34

b n

l.v.

>
J
j

gliss.
# b
b b b

J
# b

Quasi cadenza (Tempo primo)

lunga

strike strings with palm

(gong effect)

j j j j

b
b
J

b
>

>

177

j
j

#
#
#
3

b # b b # b
b # b # b b # b # b

J
J
3
P
molto cresc.

b b . .
J J
3
3
p

CROAKING FROG

Uo

b
F
U

Molto adagio q= 66

b. b

J
p

b n
>

"metallic buzz"

.
.
with fingers

SLAPSTICK

BAMBOO WIND CHIMES

220

Hp.

S. St.
B.W.Chms.

b.

b n
>

b.

# .

b n
>

&

b
p

b b
b b b b

gliss.

morendo

2 - 29 January 2010 Loma Linda