Tread on the Trail (1965)

for Sonnv Rollins

2001 Revision
Tread on the Trail is comprised of 5 lines. (a, b, C, dl, d2 and e) . Each line is
made of up a sequence of measures which is laid out 3-2-5-3-4-4-5-3-5-2-3-2
After the first 5 measures the piece retrogrades back to the beginning and adds
a 2 beat tag, making each Iine 44 beats long. This cyclic process is repeated for
a l l 5 lines with only aie melodie and rhythmic details being varied from line to
line.
.
Each line should be thoroughly rehearsed in unison The 16th notes should be
swung in jazz phrasing.
In performance each line should start in unison and then after a few cycles
each player should stagger his part canonically while retaining stict rhyihmic
relationship to the original position of the line. Afker the part is staggered
canonically the players should try to reassemble them selves into a unison
formation before jumping to the next line to repeat the process.
After going through the piece in this fashion different lines can be combined
and then combined in varying canonical displacements.
The piece can end after significant numbers of formations and vanations have
been tried with al1 the lines and end on any Iine at the end of the line. Players
can end abmptly on a prearranged cue or stagger their endings.
Duration and dynamics are up to the performers.
Any instnunents or voices may play and if desired percussion i n s t m e n t s may
be added.
In this 2001 revised edition each line has a drone option of one or two pitches
as indicated in the score.
These drones apply when only one line at a time is being played and not when
iines are beine combined.
Line D2 (whiCh does not appear in the original 1965 version) is especially to
be played with line D1 but can combine with other lines as well.
It is important for the ensemble to assemble themselves in a unison formation
on a line occasionally and especially after a long section-ofpassages where
players are dispersed on different lines.