Fast Ride in an Auto Rickshaw (2022) by Yati E. Durant
Fast Ride in an Auto Rickshaw is a symphonic description of the experience of riding in an autorickshaw through a busy city in India. The work starts with a crash, as if to signify the peril of launching the small, sputtering vehicle into the scrum of a typical busy Indian street. You can hear the sounds of other vehicles, motorbikes, honking horns, cows, dogs, people and the whoosh of near misses. All the while, the passenger hums a typical South Indian Raga, called the Kalyani – perhaps to help pacify the abject fear of the ride. At one point, the autorick’s engine stops and it grinds to a halt, and the driver tries to kick-start it. Finally, once again, the little vehicle rides off into the distance…
Commissioned and premiered by the WDR Funkhausorchester, conducted by Frank Strobel at the WDR Funkhaus Großer Sendesaal (and live on WDR3 radio) on 13th January 2023.
Orchestration: 2/2/2/2, 4(2,1,1)/2/3, 17(5,4,4,4)/5(3,2)/4(2,2), 3(1,2), 5 Timpani, 1 Pianoforte and 3 percussion (Flute 2 doubles Picc., Bassoon 2 doubles Cbn., Trombone 3 plays Bass Trombone.)
The full orchestral score to this pieces can be downloaded here.