∙ ENSEMBLE CHARTS ∙

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE:

Scored for varying combinations of Tuned and Untuned Percussion instruments.

5 or more players – Easy. Performance time 2mins.

Bucket 'a Gunk is an uptempo soul-groove piece with the phrase "Bucket 'a Gunk" notated as a recurring rhythmic theme. The Bongos and Congas are the main melodic voices sitting on top of punchy kits grooves as well as some tutti hits and a few notated solos!

Instrumentation:
Timbales + Cowbell
Bongos
Congas
Tambourine
Drumkit

6 players – Easy. Performance time 2mins 45secs.

Cha-grilled is a very fun and catchy cha-cha/rock tune with an almost 60's surf rock bridge. This piece uses clever repetition of themes and is 99% constructed of 1/4 notes and 1/8 notes.

Instrumentation:
Xylophone
Marimba (2 players)
Guiro
Vibraslap
Bongos
Cowbell
Drumkit + Cowbell

6 Players – Intermediate. Performance time 3mins 10secs.

Deep Fried Funk is bringin’ some old school back. There are remnants of 70’s funk in the drumkit and "bass" parts plus some tight syncopated ensemble phrases to chew on.

Instrumentation:
Glockenspiel
Xylophone
Vibraphone
Marimba
Drumkit
Shaker
Cowbell
Tambourine

6 Players – Difficult. Performance time 4mins.

Based on original Piano themes by Christina Churchill.

The Great Crossing is a journey across continents, taking off in aeroplanes and sailing rough seas. Encountering vast landscapes and running through tall jungles.

Instrumentation:
Glockenspiel
Vibraphone
Marimba (2 players)
Drumkit
Timpani (3 drums)
Finger Cymbals
Tambourine
Trashy Cymbal
Castanets
Triangle

6 or 7 Players – Easy. Performance time 2mins.

Involution is the process of reflecting an object twice so it appears as it ordinarily would have. This piece explores the reflection and symmetry of phrases with a quirky groove that starts in a backwards kind of way.

Instrumentation:
2 five-piece Drumkits
1 Cowbell or Agogo Bells (optional)

5 or more players – Easy. Performance time 2mins 30secs.

Machine Room mimics the random as well as constant nature of heavy industry. Regular metre changes, scrapes and moments of silence create an unpredictable listening experience rewarded with sections of well-oiled groove.

Instrumentation:
Cowbell
Agogo Bells
Guiro
Shaker
Ratchet
High Drums (any)
Low Drums (any)

6 Players – Intermediate. Performance time 2mins 25secs.

Panic is a dramatic chase through narrow streets. Thumping and rumbling drums accent moments of near capture. Find a dark alley to catch your breath!

Instrumentation:
Brake Drum (or substitute)
Floortom 1
Floortom 2
Timpani (3 drums)
Concert Bassdrum
Gong

11 Players – Intermediate. Performance time 2mins.

Procession of the Elements is a thunderous battle that explodes with all mighty power. The ending accelerates into 'split' phrases and driving syncopation like hot and cold air fronts colliding before a gigantic storm.

Instrumentation:
Timpani (2 drums)
Snares (2 players)
Toms (4 players)
Concert Bassdrum
Hand Cymbals
Suspended Cymbal
Gong

6 Players – Difficult. Performance time 3mins 40secs.

Salsa De La Selva (Jungle Salsa) is full of authentic Cuban ingredients. Players switch between untuned and tuned instruments in skilful changes to create a flow of sections including all in drumming, combination cook-outs and detailed mallet playing.

Instrumentation:
Temple Blocks
Marimba (2 players)
Wind chimes
Roto-Toms
Gong Congas
Xylophone
Timbales/Cowbell/Jam Block
Bongos
Cha Bell
Vibraphone
Timpani (3 drums)
Drumkit
Agogo Bells

6 Players – Intermediate. Performance time 3mins 15secs.

Stars in the Sand sparkles with dreamy melodies in a 6/8 African flavoured setting. Two Glockenspiels (split stage left and right), Vibraphone and Windchimes conjure images of glistening sand trickling through fingers whilst the Marimba and drums are the earthy heartbeat of a vast plain. The main Djembe player simultaneously plays a kickdrum and is joined by the Glockenspiel and Marimba players on Djembes in the middle breakdown.

Instrumentation:
Glockenspiel (x2)
Vibraphone
Marimba (2 players)
Djembes (x5)
Kickdrum
Windchimes

DRUMLINE:

All scored for high-tension Snares and Tenors, 5 melodic Bassdrums and hand Cymbals.

Feature – Advanced Intermediate. 88 bars. Performance time 2mins 25secs.

Beating Heart of Boomtown is an "In the Lot" style groove based feature. A powerful theme is revisited between section solos that include displaced phrases which poke out in gaps to create unpredictable and exciting syncopation. Whilst there is heavy use of single and double paradiddles, paradiddle-diddles and single and double stroke rolls, a conscious decision was made not to introduce diddles and flams for this level. Combinations of wrists, rebound and arm extensions (as well as quick movement around the Tenors and between Bass players) will challenge the player's fine detail and fluency.

Cadence – Intermediate. 18 bars (can repeat).

Chloride Street is a seriously funky street-beat in a swung 1/16 feel. It features "turntable scratches", diddle and buzz passages, syncopated 1/16 note tutti phrases and splits in the basses, offbeat cymbal lines help the funk with hi-hats and vacuum sucks.

Cadence – Intermediate. 16 bars (can repeat).

Clevedon Ranges is a powerful cadence with strong forward momentum. It features 1/8 note and 1/16 note triplets within 1/16 note accent/diddle passages, crossovers in the tenors, split grooves and 1/16 note triplet runs in the basses.

Cadence – Intermediate. 17 bars + repeats.

Firehouse is a smokin' street-beat with a highly syncopated opening riff. Each part locks in carefully creating constant groove even with a few intricate ensemble fills. Tenors and basses feature in the final 4 bars between ensemble stabs.

Cadence – Easy. 16 bars (can repeat).

Graft + Corruption opens with big strokes! In the first half the basses play punchy two bar phrases alongside a vacuum suck/hi-hat hook on the cymbals. The snares and tenors become quite interactive with a simple use of 1/16 notes and dynamics. In the second half the snares open into a cool 1/16 note accent passage while the tenors groove, the basses play simple splits and the cymbals catch a bunch of accents.

Feature – Intermediate. 104 bars. Performance time 2mins.

New Threads is a fast paced feature built-up of strong ensemble phrases and effective interlocking parts that makes for a very impressive presentation. Snares and tenors feature together with offset Paradiddle/Paradiddle-diddle passages before the catchy 6 bar main theme enters at section B. The feature breaks down twice between recaps of the theme and Paradiddles, including an energetic half-time groove accelerating back to full speed!

Copyright © Mat Duniam 2010