It's Just a Scale... (2005), for any ensemble

It's Just a Scale... is to be played by a chamber ensemble consisting of at least four performers using melodic instruments with relatively similar pitch ranges sitting in a circle facing outwards. The piece begins on a note to be agreed on by all the players prior to performance (or perhaps ask the audience to shout out a starting note and go from there). One performer should consistently start the scale meaning one person should always play the bottom note of the scale from which the rest of the players (the starter included) may play off of. The players must then perform a single octave ascending major scale starting on that first pitch. The catch is that the order of who plays which notes must be random. No two players may play simultaneously. If someone plays a wrong note or multiple people play at the same time, the piece starts over. Example: If the piece begins on D, the starter must play a D, and then a different performer plays the E above it. If the second note played is anything but that E, it is considered a wrong note and the piece must begin again. The same goes for the third note on F#, the fourth on G, fifth on A etc Octave displacements are not acceptable, as they will disrupt the audience members' perception of the piece. The piece ends once the scale has been successfully played. If the top note of the scale is reached quickly, performers have the option of continuing the piece by playing the same scale descending.

Feel free to select this work for any program, modifying, changing, altering, et cetera any of the rules/instructions as you see fit. My only request is that I be informed of each performance for my own personal records. 

Natalie Todd, piano
Jonathan Flodder, saxophone
Aaron Krerowicz, trombone
Brooks Frederickson, vibraphone
Phillip Schwein, bass clarinet