"Autumn Rhythm" is a contemporary percussion quintet written for Kevin Hendricks and the ETSB percussion ensemble. This work focuses on different syncopations and grooves that should layer together to create an interesting sonic experience. This work is scored for two drums and four sounds for each player and is based on and inspired by Jackson Pollocks’ work of the same name. "Autumn Rhythm" provides an enjoyable experience for the performers and audience alike.

Autumn Rhythm (percussion quintet) - Steven Wimberley

A follow-up and companion piece to Remington's ever-popular "Prelude to Paradise," "Thy Kingdom Come" is a bright & sparkling new work for percussion orchestra that merges the Swedish hymn "How Great Thou Art" with original ideas, resulting in a joyous celebration.

Thy Kingdom Come (percussion orchestra) - Jacob Remington

"(My Favorite Purple) Prickly Pear" is a battery septet that features diverse styles of drumming are included, from traditional rudimental, drum-set, and contemporary hybrid, to Afro-Cuban hand drumming. Additionally, some modern minimalist-cascara rhythms, and polyrhythms are employed as motivic material.

(My Favorite Purple) Prickly Pear (perc ens 7) - Andy Smith

"A Cantiga" is a large percussion ensemble piece that melds the modern mallet percussion ensemble with traditional Brazilian-style bateria. If Brazilian drums aren’t available, the instrumentation of this short, intermediate-level piece can be flexible.

A Cantiga (percussion ensemble) - Sarah Santa Cruz [excerpt]

Commissioned by the Momentum Percussion Group for snare drum percussion quartet, "Ring Toss" is a ﬁve-minute work for intermediate percussion ensemble using four alike or graduated snare drums. The work explores multiple sounds and playing spots, varying textures ranging from ensemble unison ﬁgures to hocket passages, a full dynamic spectrum, and multiple metric contexts. Simple in instrumentation, but aurally complex and captivating, this quartet is certain to be engaging for both performers and audiences alike.

Ring Toss (snare drum quartet) - Josh Gottry

Written for three percussionists in a circular setup sharing a centralized snare drum, "The Round Table" is a short, groovy piece for young players that would work great on any concert or recital.

The Round Table (percussion trio) - Nicholas A. Fields

"Light & Water" is a through-composed double concerto for solo marimba and timpani accompanied by 6 percussionists. It showcases the two soloists equally with both technical bravado (light) and sensitive lyricism (water).

Light & Water (solo marimba & timpani + perc ens 6) - Daiki Kato

As the saying goes, “good things come in small packages.” Unlike many percussion ensemble works that are centered around larger instruments—marimba, timpani, vibraphone, bass drum, and such—this piece speciﬁcally focuses on the smaller percussion instruments, one of which for each player is portable and handheld.

Small But Mighty (perc ens 7) - Josh Gottry

This beautiful adaptation of Frédéric Chopin’s "Nocturne in E-flat Major" for keyboard percussion ensemble (+ optional Timpani and Aluphone) provides groups with a rich timbral tapestry to develop their dynamics, touch, sound quality, and ensemble skills. With textures ranging from “wind-up music box” to marimba choir to full percussion orchestra, this dynamic arrangement manages to capture both the intimacy of the original composition for solo piano and the spectacle of some of the more well-known orchestral versions.

Nocturne in E-flat Major (percussion ensemble) - Chopin, arr. Jacob Arie

"The Starry Night" 

This piece was inspired by the iconic painting The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, created in 1889. Van Gogh painted it while he was staying at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum, shortly after the incident in which he cut off his left ear. 

It’s believed that the painting captures the view from the window of his room at the asylum. In fact, during his time there, he created a total of 21 paintings—each depicting different moments, different weathers, both day and night. 

The Starry Night was painted with oil on canvas. The colors were applied straight from the tube and spread directly onto the canvas, creating a dreamy, almost surreal effect. If you look closely at the sky, you can feel the swirling, restless energy—it’s as if the stars are in constant motion, on the verge of explosion. In contrast, the village below appears peaceful and serene.

On the left side of the painting, a large tree stretches upward, bridging the sky and the earth. This is a cypress tree, often associated with cemeteries and mourning—an element open to many interpretations.

At that time, Van Gogh’s mental state was extremely fragile—chaotic, confused, and turbulent. I wanted to express this emotional complexity in a musical form, as I understood it.

That’s why I composed this piece with intentional dissonance—layers of rhythm flowing over and against each other, creating a kind of beautiful disorder, much like the painting itself. I chose a percussion ensemble as the medium because percussion is uniquely capable of conveying complex, conflicting rhythms while still retaining beauty and harmony.

The Starry Night for Concert Percussion Ensemble 2025

Perapong Viriya (b.2001) is a Thai composer, conductor, and saxophonist. His works have been recognized in Thai Composer of Our Century and performed by prominent ensembles including the Million Wind Philharmonic, Hamonious Musikavier, Suranaree Girls School Bands, Nontri Orchestra Wind, and the Mahidol University Tuba Euphonium Studio. His music has also been featured internationally, reflecting his growing presence on the global stage.
Inspired by diverse traditions—ranging from Classical and Romantic music to late 20th-century styles, Jazz, and Blues—Perapong is particularly known for blending contemporary techniques with traditional Thai elements. This fusion creates a distinctive voice that bridges cultures and resonates with audiences across different backgrounds.
Much of his work is shaped by personal experiences and travels. He often draws on stories, places, and emotions from his own life, weaving them into musical narratives that invite performers and listeners to share in his perspective. For Perapong, music is both an art form and a way of expressing identity: a means for others to truly know him through sound.
He began playing music at the age of ten and soon discovered his passion for composition, especially in the setting of wind ensembles, orchestras, and concert bands. Currently, he is pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in music at the College of Music, Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, where he continues to refine his craft as a composer, conductor, and saxophonist.

New tracks tagged #Percussion Ensemble