At the CSO concert last night, toward the end of this piece, I noticed the harp player looking like she was scratching her arm. Then I noticed several people in the orchestra, not playing but looking as if they were lightly shaking something in their closed hands. I thought I might have heard something very faintly, as if they were making some sort of noise, but I can’t be sure. Anyone know what was happening?
They are using Baoding Balls. They make a quiet chime when you rotate them in your hand. You can see it in this performance starting at 14:40.
I’m guessing not many people have heard of this piece before, but by modern classical music standards, it’s quite popular and is among the most performed orchestral pieces by a living American composer.
(NB: it’s Jennifer Higdon, not Joan)
Excellent. Thanks very much. Yep - Jennifer, not Joan.