Pedal Music

Programme Notes

Pedal Music is a happy composition designed to be enjoyed outdoors. Each movement draws inspiration from Handel’s Water Music (1717), using his themes as a springboard for exploration. Like Handel’s original work, which was conceived to be performed with musicians and audience moving along the water, Pedal Music takes that idea further—this time with musicians in motion on bicycles. As the performers pedal (or are pedaled) through public spaces, the audience is invited to tag along with the musical caravan—whether by bike, on foot, skateboarding, or simply enjoying the music as it passes by.

In contrast to the aristocratic setting of Water Music, Pedal Music is meant to be an inclusive celebration, accessible to everyone. By using bicycles as both a mode of transportation and a metaphor for movement, I hope to break down the elitist roots of classical music and make the performance a communal, public experience. The music is designed to flow through the streets, parks, and open spaces, inviting people from all walks of life to engage with a musical performance in a new way.

The concept of musicians performing while on bicycles is deeply meaningful to me. There’s something powerful about propelling ourselves forward with nothing but the push of a pedal. I believe that by combining pedal power with music, we can create change—transforming city streets and public spaces into cultural havens. Pedal Music is a call for more livable communities and a healthier planet, where we embrace the outdoors, leave behind the confines of cars and concert halls, and reconnect with our environment. My hope is that this composition can inspire others to rediscover the joy of movement and music in the open air, fostering a sense of possibility for both ourselves and the world around us.

– Frank Horvat

Performance Instructions

Pedal Music was designed to feature four separate chamber groups of musicians, each performing one of the work’s four 20-minute movements. These groups will simultaneously travel in different directions within a larger outdoor space while performing.

The musicians may be positioned on the back of rickshaws, custom flatbed bike trailers attached to bicycles, or on the front of customized freight bikes. Each group will loop their assigned movement five times during a 2-hour event, with a 5-minute break between each loop. The performance schedule would break down as follows:

• 20-minute movement x 5 performances = 100 minutes
• 5 minutes of break time between each loop = 25 minutes
• Total time for each group: 105 minutes

After completing their individual loops, the four groups will converge at a central location for the final composition, Chain, which combines the instrumentation from the first four movements.

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Flexibility and Variations

The five movements of Pedal Music are presented in the order in which they were composed. Each movement is a standalone composition, so musicians are welcome to reorder or omit movements as needed for the specific event. Additionally, Pedal Music can be adapted for conventional indoor or outdoor concert settings, should a more traditional performance environment be desired.

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Re-orchestration and Customization

Each movement can be re-orchestrated to accommodate the specific ensemble available for your event. Please contact Frank directly for any inquiries regarding re-orchestration or further details.

PERFORMING FORCES & DURATION

Frame (20 minutes)
Based on the opening theme of Handel’s Water Music – Suite No. 1, 1. Overture
(Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola 1, Viola 2, Cello, 4-octave Marimba. Alternate arrangement for String Quartet and Marimba also available.)

Rim (20 minutes)
Based on the opening theme of Handel’s Water Music – Suite No. 1, 8. Bourrée
(Trumpet 1, Trumpet 2, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba, Bass & Snare Drum)

Spoke (20 minutes)
Based on the opening theme of Handel’s Water Music – Suite No. 2, 15. Bourrée
(Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, French Horn, Bassoon, Xylophone)

Inner Tube (20 minutes)
Based on the opening theme of Handel’s Water Music – Suite No. 3, 21
(Flute, Clarinet, Congas)

Chain (Finale, 13 minutes)
Based on the opening theme of Handel’s Water Music – Suite No. 3, 16
(all instrumentation listed above)

(Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, InConcerto’s world premiere performance of Pedal Music at the MúsicaOcupa Festival in Quito was cancelled.)