Composed by Clifton Taylor for solo marimba with percussion ensemble. Solo performed by Jason Baker, percussion ensemble audio electronically rendered by Tapspace Publications.

Concertpiece For Marimba and Percussion Ensemble

Mycological

Bandcamp

Sunrise Escape

Sheet music available from Tapspace at http://www.tapspace.com.

Some Things - Mvt. 3 (Eric Willie)

Hang onto your hats and glasses! This exercise in timing and independence for the advanced battery ensemble will test the mind and the ears, as well as just downright make some folks uncomfortable. Flash Gordon Henderson is the latest concoction by Murray Gusseck and was heard throughout 2009 in DCI warmup areas around the country.

It works the timing and independence concepts by way of the players themselves providing their own metronome—a quarter note in one hand while slaloming a series of rhythmic twists and turns with the other. Designed by Murray to be a cool and interesting way of working basic rhythmic independence concepts, the end result for the battery section is anything but basic. Parents with small children beware!


Sheet music available from http://www.tapspace.com


Flash Gordon Henderson (Murray Gusseck)

The title It's in 4 comes in the form of an answer to a question that was posed during a parade in which this cadence was utilized to "coordinate" the footsteps of the performers. In this case, the performers were the members of the Santa Clara Vanguard, the questioner was an SCV staffer (who shall not be named), and the "questionee" was drumline instructor Murray Gusseck. The dialog went something like this: "That sounds like $&#. What $*%*#@^ meter is that in??"

Gusseck's answer became the new name for the cadence. And now It's in 4 has been refurbished and shined up with new life for your listening and downloading pleasure. Clocking in at over two minutes, this behemoth has some old school and some new school mixed together that would challenge anyone. The piece has been tweaked for increased playability and less ticks, so don't be afraid to dive in and start swimming.


It's in 4 (Murray Gusseck)

"POOF! You're loose!" was what Scott Johnson used to say to the members of SCV's 1992 drumline when they complained about needing to warm up. This old-school 60-second warmup was then marching member Murray Gusseck's tip of the aussie to Scott and the gang. Don't let the phrase "old-school" fool you though...POOF! runs the rudimental gamut in short order, so have your chops at the ready!

POOF! (Murray Gusseck)

The word "scintilla" was originally Latin for "spark." It is currently defined on dictionary.com as a minute amount; hint, trace, or particle. Newcomer Andrew Ziehm's Scintilla for marching battery ensemble has a hint of some spark, alright…lots of it. The phrase, "It's all in the details" seems apropos when listening to this sophisticated work by a very young composer.

The piece effortlessly mixes 6/8, 4/4, and 7/8 and keeps dancing the whole time. Particularly scintillating bits are during the 6/8 sections where the interplay between snares, tenors, basses, AND cymbals create not so much a theme as a vibe. Very cool stuff!


Scintilla (Andrew Ziehm)

Josh Brickey raises the battery etude bar a couple notches higher with Seven Is Heaven. Brickey masterfully weaves in and out of 7/8 time in a way that is at once both complicated and groovy. Performers must master both density and dynamics in order to get a grip on the piece. From start to finish, you'll get more than your fill of notes with this one…and a healthier understanding of odd time signatures to boot. Kudos Josh!


Seven Is Heaven (Josh Brickey)

Champion snare drummer Jeff Queen serves up a juicy plate of "get some" with this new parking lot jam for battery entitled Uncle Ted. Performers will have all aspects of their playing challenged--dynamics, density, and rhythmic integrity. Audiences will have their minds blown. Written in the spirit of early 90's warmups (only in 7/8 this time!), the piece goes from single-hand sections to chop-busting hybrid rudiment phrases the whole family can enjoy…especially Uncle Ted! Those swung 16ths are for you buddy!

Flash Gordon Henderson (Murray Gusseck)

Tapspace

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