SUBMERGED

Extended Technique: Many of the techniques used in this piece are covered in Salzedo’s “Modern Study of the Harp,” which can be found here. Scroll down below to hear each extended technique in isolation.

Form:
A - 0:00 (minor / bitonal) 
B - 2:40 (atonal)
C - 4:15 (whole tone scales / harmonics)
D - 5:26 (minor / bitonality)
E - 6:46, transition
A - 7:35

Program Note:
This piece was inspired by the poem "Me at the Bottom of the Sea", written by Alfonsina Storni, printed below in the original Spanish, as well as English:

"Yo en el fondo del mar" 

En el fondo del mar 
  hay una casa 
  de cristal. 
A una avenida 
  de madréporas 
  da. 
Un gran pez de oro, 
  a las cinco, 
  me viene a saludar. 
Me trae 
  un rojo ramo 
  de flores de coral. 
Duermo en una cama 
  un poco más azul 
  que el mar. 
Un pulpo 
  me hace guiños 
  a través del cristal. 
En el bosque verde 
  que me circunda 
  —din don…din dan…— 
  se balancean y cantan 
  las sirenas 
  de nácar verdemar. 
Y sobre mi cabeza 
  arden, en el crepúsculo, 
  las erizadas puntas del mar. 

--
"Me at the Bottom of the Sea" 

At the bottom of the sea 
  there is a house 
  made of glass, 
at the edge 
  of a coral-lined 
  road. 
A big golden fish 
  comes to greet me 
  at five; 
it brings me 
  a red bouquet 
  of coral as flowers. 
I sleep on a bed 
  somewhat bluer 
  than the sea. 
An octopus 
  now winks at me 
  through the glass. 
In the green forest 
  that surrounds me 
  swaying mermaids sing 
  —ding, dong … ding, ding— 
  in their nacre and aquamarine. 
And above my head 
  glow in the twilight 
  the prickling pins of the sea. 

(Translation by composer)