2022-23 Percussion Ensemble (Intermediate)

Percussion

"Communion Prayer" is a lush and meditative piece that will provide a breath of fresh air for performers, teachers, and audiences alike. Stretching performers to obtain mastery over touch and balance, while still providing technical challenges, it’s sure to be a great piece for your concert.

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Communion Prayer (perc ens 8) - Adam Bruce

BLAZE is a balanced percussion septet pitting the keyboards versus the battery instruments. It draws inspiration from the following Ralph Waldo Emerson quote, as in “trail-blaze” or a blaze on a trail:

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

Blaze (percussion septet) - Nathan Daughtrey

"Benedict(us)" is an energetic and exciting piece of music that explores janissary percussion instruments; triangles, tambourines, and bass drum as well as other accessory and battery percussion instruments such as toms, woodblocks, and snare drum. The brackets around the last two letters of the title emphasize the word "us," suggesting "blessed be us."

Benedict(us)(perc ens 10) - Joe W. Moore III

Take your percussionists on an adventure to the mysterious and uncharted reaches of the galaxy. <b>Outer Limits</b> challenges the young percussionists to create and display a spectrum of unique and otherworldly timbres. The audio track vividly portrays the vast and ominous depths of deep space while providing a steady beat for easy play-along.

Outer Limits (Perc Ens 6 + Track) - Brandon Dittgen

Inspired by the lunar exploration program The Artemis Plan, this percussion octet imagines the initial exploration phase, the discovery and colonization, and the unknown that lies ahead. With our population ever growing, and the Earth’s climate in danger, a new generation will have to ﬁnd creative ways to sustain life. "The Artemis Generation" could be a big part of the solution.

The Artemis Generation (Perc Ens 8) - Doug Wallace

An exploration of short and long sounds in a rhythmically captivating orchestration, “Dot Dash” is creatively-conceived work that allows for flexible instrumentation and ensemble size options. Pairing pitched and non-pitched instruments, this work turns a simple rhythmic motive into a groovy ensemble setting as sparse melodic components take a supportive role behind the textural and rhythmic features.

Dot Dash (perc ens 5-9+) - Josh Gottry

Six pieces for six or more beginning percussionists, using only the components of each student’s percussion kit (bells or pad), this pedagogically designed collection is the perfect gateway into percussion ensemble performance for young percussion students.

Machine (from "Kit Six" for 6 Percussionists) - Josh Gottry

From the burning bush to the parting of the Red Sea, “Plagues” chronicles the incredible story of the struggle between Moses and Pharaoh in the Old Testament book of Exodus. This dramatic and compelling retelling of the story is scored for percussion orchestra and is enhanced by use of an electronic soundscape.

Plagues (Perc Ens 15) - Adam Bruce

This Romantic classic by Antonin Dvorak has been masterfully arranged for marimba quintet (or marimba orchestra) by Clair Omar Musser and edited by Dan Armstrong. Perfect for bringing out the sensitive side of your percussionists.

Largo from 'New World Symphony' (marimba sextet) - Dvorak/Musser/Armstrong

"Breakout RGV" is a unique and exciting piece for 10 players that fits lyrical melodies, ethereal soundscapes, and heavy asymmetric grooves all within 5 minutes. The music constantly builds to a climactic and virtuosic ending sure to have the audience bouncing in their seats!

Breakout RGV (perc ens 10) - Marco Schirripa

Tour de Force is an orchestrated piano improvisation that is haphazard, jarring, and abrasive at times. At its most fundamental level, this is music with no substance or narrative composed for the mere sake of sounding sophisticated.

Outer Limits (Perc Ens 6 + Track) - Brandon Dittgen

C. Alan Publications