Hyperprism is a work for wind, brass, and percussion instruments by Edgard Varèse, composed in 1922 and revised in 1923.
Background The work was first performed at an International Composers' Guild concert during their second series at the Klaw Theatre on March 4, 1923. The audience laughed throughout the performance and hissed during the ovation."Taxi Toots Sound Sweet After Music By Composers Guild: Many Hisses Greet Conclusion of 'Hyperprism'; Dissenters Told to Leave and Piece Is Played Over Again", New York Tribune, March 5, 1923. Someone, perhaps Carlos Salzedo, got on the stage and urged the audience to take the work seriously. It was repeated to no better effect on the crowd. There was one report of a fistfight between two men who were exiting the hall.
Instrumentation The piece is scored for the following instrumentation.
Woodwinds 1 flute (doubling piccolo) 1 clarinet in E Brass 3 horns 2 trumpets in C 1 tenor trombone 1 bass trombones
Percussion snare drum Indian drum bass drum tambourine Chinese cymbal 2 cymbals tam-tam triangle
Percussion (cont'd) anvil slapstick 2 Chinese blocks (high and low) lion's roar rattle big rattle sleigh bells siren
References