"Few and Far Between" is a percussion quintet composed by Adam Hopper for his graduating group of seniors in 2019.   The light hearted and fun, grooved based melodies are enjoyable to listen to, but still challenging for the performers.   The interlocking rhythmic patterns require focus and clarity amongst the performers.  "Few and Far Between" is something to check out if you have an upcoming group of solid upperclassmen.

Few and Far Between

Inspired by a daily treck for coffee in Bangkok, Thailand, Len Bao Bao is reminiscent of the sounds of Buddhist monks collecting their daily alms, and the awakening city around them.  This piece features what could be considered a strange instrumentation, but each voice was carefully selected to represent a specific sound heard each day.  Almost all voice are metallic in nature, thus representing the metal bowls that each monk collected their offerings in.  The modified drum set, bass guitar, and tenor saxophone, represent a modern feel of the city in stark juxtaposition with the ancient act of the monks.  The words Len Bao Bao literally mean "play gently."

Len Bao Bao

"Lost Cause Kids" is a piece written for solo 4.3 marimba. Written as a commission for the studio of Colby Snider, the piece is inspired by the patients of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. St. Jude Thaddeus is the patron saint of lost causes, and the namesake of the hospital. The hospital has treated children with life threatening illnesses since its founding in 1962, and through research has drastically increased the survival rate of childhood cancers and other diseases. Lost Cause Kids begins with a simple and childlike melody that expands into a fun and playful theme. This theme develops and reprises, representing the normal growth and experiences one has as a child. As the piece moves into the next section, a darker more unsettled theme enters. Representing uncertainty and a foreboding challenge that awaits. This section overtime recedes and our original theme and playful melody reemerges, thus representing a return to normalcy."

The piece can be performed either as a solo marimba solo, or by including the optional vibraphone, glock, and drum set parts, it can easily become a chamber percussion ensemble work.

T. Adam Hopper

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