elec. vln, 1 or 2 synth, elec. bass, timp., 4 perc:finger cyms/tgl/referee whistle/crot/xyl/glsp;tgl/referee whistle/vib;lg tam-t/tgl/referee whistle/sm tamb/lg cowbell/mar;ratchet/whip/bongos/tamb/wdbls/3cowbells/finger cyms/tgl/referee whistle/hi-hat/crot/glsp
Abbreviations (PDF)
Boosey & Hawkes (Hendon Music)
Lex (1991-1993) derives its title from one of Superman’s most vexing foes, the supervillain and business tycoon Lex Luthor. Marked “Diabolical” in the score, this movement features a virtuoso violin soloist (Lex) who plays a fiendishly difficult fast triplet motive in perpetual motion, pursued by the orchestration and a percussion section that includes four referee whistles placed quadraphonically on stage.
–Michael Daugherty