Solo Title: The Devil’s Dermish
Composer and Arranger: Lauren Bernofsky (b. 1967)
Publisher Code: Theodore Presser Company, 144406900
Date Published: 1994, 2017
Clef: Bass and Tenor
Purchase Link: Sheet Music Plus
Recording: Ava Ordman, It’s About Time, Blue Griffin
The Devil’s Dermish is a work that will challenge the soloist with rhythm, range, and musicality. With multiple mixed meters, the soloist will need to keep the quarter note and dotted quarter notes consistently through the entirety of the respected tempos. A test of the high range occurs throughout the work, but especially in two sections where the soloist will have to place a D5 or Eb5, and sustain those respective notes for three measures. Beginning in measure 285 through measure 292, the soloist is asked to play a few phrases with multiphonics followed by 32nd notes. This is part of a cadenza so the soloist can take liberty with the tempo. The final page re-introduces motifs from the beginning of this 10-minute with glissandi taking place in the final measure as well as a rip from G2 to F#4.
| Movements and Tempo Markings | Duration | |||||||
| Tranquillo (q=100) Con fuoco (dotted q=104) Poco meno mosso (dotted q-tied-q=60) | 10' | |||||||
| Organization’s Class and Grade Levels | FMEA | ISSMA | ITA | NYSSMA | OMEA | PMEA | UIL | |
| (What is This?) | NL | NL | NL | NL | NL | NL | 1 | |
| Grading Points Scale | Level | Total Points | Range | Rhythm | Tempo | Duration | Bonus | |
| (What is This?) | - | - | E2 to Eb5 [1] | 32nd | 80 bpm | 10' | See Footnote [2] | |
| 6 (5.6) | 28 | 2.5 | 5.5 | 2 | 10 | 8 | ||
- Even though the highest written note is Eb5, several sections in the piece are marked optional 8vb.
- Multiple Tonguing (1), Mute (1), Clef Changes (1), Ornamentation (1), Meter Changes (1), Syncopation (1), Interval Jump (1), Extended Techniques (1)