Percussion Ensemble
Dayspring (2020)
Publisher: Tapspace
Level: Med-Easy
Duration: 3:10
Personnel: 8
Instr: see setup
Price: $37
This piece features a four-note motive that is presented at the very beginning by the keyboard instruments. This motive is presented throughout the piece in unison statements as well as being presented in a staggered fashion which creates an overlapping effect. The rhythm of the motive, four consecutive eighth notes, is used to structure the climatic point of the piece and is sometimes modified throughout in order to give variance to particular phrases. The keyboard instruments, which carry the weight of the motive, are backed by a core percussion group including the snare drum, bass drum, and timpani. This is a fun and upbeat piece and is perfect piece for an experienced middle school or beginning high school ensemble.
Long Way Home (2018)
Publisher: Chad Floyd Publications
Level: Med-Advanced
Duration: 6:00
Personnel: 2
Instr: 1 vibe, 1 marimba (4.3-oct.)
Price: $28
*digital format only
*music will be emailed within 24 hrs of payment
Inspired by my children and their relentless desire to go the "long way home" on certain days when I pick them up from school. To them, the short way home is uneventful. I guess it's because the short way home leads straight to our subdivision without any dramatic curves, hills, or trees. In contrast, the long way home twists and turns, has several small hills, and follows a creek in the woods. The peaks and valleys are evident in the dynamic contours of this piece. To me, the strong consonance and simplicity of the melodic line at the beginning and end represent the simple things in life, and how those things sometimes bring the most joy as a parent. This piece was originally written as a marimba solo in 2016 and premiered by Dr. Colin Hill in 2017 at Tennessee Tech University. The vibraphone part was later added in December of 2017.
Six of One (2017)
Publisher: Chad Floyd Publications
Level: Med-Advanced
Duration: 5:10
Personnel: 6
Instr: bells, 2 vibes, 3 mar.
Price: $45
*digital format only
*music will be emailed within 24 hrs of payment
This mallet sextet requires bells, two vibraphones, and three marimbas (two 4.3 octaves and one 5 octave). With the exception of the bells, all parts require the use of four-mallet technique. Based solely on one motivic idea (the opening motive on marimba) the majority of the piece was written over my spring break in 2017 and then finished over the summer. The premiere performance was given by The Florida State University Freshmen Sextet (Dr. John W. Parks IV, director) in the fall of 2017.
Triptych Boom (2013)
Publisher: Tapspace
Level: Med-Advanced
Duration: 6:05
Personnel: 4
Instr: solo snare, xylo/vibes, mar, perc
Price: $42
Triptych Boom features a snare soloist backed by three multipercussionists. The snare drummer is presented with an ever-changing combination of sticks, brushes, and hands while exploring a number of creative techniques in which the drum is played. The accompaniment parts are equally intriguing, as the percussionists are called on to manage multiple instruments, sticks, mallets, and hand techniques. This accompanying trio creates a uniquely colorful backing for the soloist and several moments where clever interplay occurs between all players. As an added extra, this piece comes with an alternate “solo only” version that includes an electro-acoustic audio backing track. Much of the snare part in this optional, slightly longer (6:05) version is the same; the audio accompaniment, however, varies greatly from the trio version.
