Night Train
composer: Nancy Galbraith (2006)
genres: electroacoustic; chamber
length: 4 movements, 15:00 minutes
orchestration: solo amplified flute (with reverb & delay pedals),
electric cello quartet; marimba, percussion
publisher: Subito Music Publishing (ASCAP)
60 Depot Street, Verona, NJ 07044
mail@subitomusic.com • 973-857-3440
audio/video:   

world premiere: 27 April 2008
Stephen Schultz (electroacoustic Baroque flute)
Cellofourte (electric cellos) • Marcus Kim (marimba)
Brandon Schantz (percussion) • Sang Mok Lee (sound design)
Kresge Recital Hall, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
movements: 1. Detroit Station    2. Moonlight    3. Nightscape    4. BC Dawning
program notes:

Persistent underlying rhythms that evoke the feel of a train ride in all four movements, and the distinctly nocturnal character of the inner two, combined to suggest the work’s title. Night Train was composed for Baroque flutist Stephen Schultz and Pittsburgh's innovative new quartet Cellofourte. Schultz performs his Baroque-era flute (traverso) with effects processors that provides amplification, reverb, and delay effects. The amplified Celloforte delivers a steady supply of dynamic textural sound and driving rhythm composed with an ear towards the quartet's signature style. The percussion section features a full sized marimba, and a battery of drums including tom-toms, congas, timbales, crotales, temple blocks, and udu.

press bytes: Night Train is enormously appealing; of all the pieces [on the CD] it displays the richest, fullest treatment of the instrumental ensemble, although it is also the one with the strongest strain of rock style. It is perhaps my favorite piece on the program, with felicitous combinations of sonorities that can only be described as delicious.
Fanfare Magazine
recordings: Nancy Galbraith ~ Other Sun
Centaur Records • 2011 • CR 3106
source: nancygalbraith.com