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Without a Murmur was commissioned by Dr. Michael Sammons and the University of Utah in 2021. Contrary to the title, a “murmur” is created throughout the piece through the use of a superball, a toy bouncy ball made of synthetic rubber. This “murmur” effect is used in different ways as the piece develops and can be regarded as a primary compositional element. In addition to the superball, more familiar snare drum implements are used throughout the piece including bundlz/hot rods, brushes, and sticks. The premiere performance was given by University of Utah student Nick Montoya in 2022. Dr. Michael Sammons recorded the piece in 2024, and is available on his album “Morse Code (More Than . . .).