Instrumentation: 4 Marimbas (one 5 octave), Vibraphone and Drum kit.

This piece is all about the groove. Just like any house music you listen to, there is a constant beat, a repetitive theme and an overlying melody. The composition emulates house music by artists like deadmau5 and Daft Punk by using elements like repetition and modality. 

This piece was written for my Composition Project in 2013 and was first performed by my ensemble SoundStruck Percussion at the 2013 World Forum on Music at the Queensland Conservatorium.

To purchase this piece, head to: https://www.tsoofbaras.com/music/dawn-age/

Dawn Of The Age

Players: 4
Instrumentation: YOU!
‘Unsurprisingly yet another body percussion piece’ is…… well….. A body percussion piece for percussion quartet. This piece involves the playing of one’s body as an instrument. The concept of body percussion explores the use of a very versatile percussion instrument that you play every day. For musicians, this piece is short, easy to setup, exciting for the crowd, a bit of a workout, fun to play and a challenge. 

There are 5 major sounds: Stomp, Patsch (thigh), Chest hit, Clap and Click, and the performers are encouraged to add vocalisations.

Because it is such a physical piece, I would encourage the performers to add in choreography and to exercise the power of choice in terms of sticking (‘handings’ and ‘footings’) and the choice between standing and sitting. The performers may also experiment with visual mediums like talcum powder and other sound choices like using toy hammers instead of hands and choosing extremely thick shoes. Also take into consideration your chosen venue in the context of foot stomps, it may be wise to form a little stage, or even to mic the performance.

This piece, unlike my others, works a lot more with unison playing and incorporates a lot more stylised silence.  As the composer of the piece and a percussionist myself, my biggest suggestion is to work through the piece with the score, and in sections that include ‘runs’/’passing the beat’ between parts, each player learns only their part and the group practice these sections repeatedly until perfect. Without these sections being at least mostly correct the main effect of the piece is lost. I also would suggest against relying on the other players for the runs. This becomes tricky really quickly and is not as ‘safe’ and easy to remember as your own part.

This piece was written for my Composition Project in 2013.

To purchase this piece, head to: https://www.tsoofbaras.com/music/unsurprisingly-yet-another-body-percussion-piece/

Unsurprisingly Yet Another Body Percussion Piece

In Africa depicts the sunrise and sunset of the savannahs of Africa. The beginning signifies the rustling of the leaves and grass in the morning and slowly brings in the marimba as the theme ‘a day’. The rest of the piece introduces themes to signify the various animals/wildlife and, being inspired by the opening of the Lion king, the circle of life. The change to the minor brings the turn of the afternoon and the results of the morning hunt. Following the climax of the evening, the piece retires to its beginning hinting the beginning of the next day. It is a long and quiet ending signifying the contrast between the expected length of a sunset and the real time it actually takes for the sun to set and the light to fade.

To purchase this piece, head to: https://www.tsoofbaras.com/music/africa/

In Africa

In the old days the steam engine allowed for the fastest travel at the time. And the chugga chugga of the steam engine is the rhythm to the heart and soul of this country shuffle.

Buy now at https://www.tsoofbaras.com/music/

Photo by Radu Vladislav on Unsplash

Jetpack Shuffle

Written for the FCIP Senior percussion ensemble 2021, this piece for 12 players draws inspiration from the many cultures that surround the Straits of Gibraltar. The fusion of ethnicities and trade that surround one stretch of water inspires images of belly dancing in a middle eastern bazaar, staring at the ocean from the coast and travelling into the wonders of the desert.

Straits Of Gibraltar

Postlude To Dawn

Prelude To Dawn

Sol And Mani

Wings

Oblivion

Dunes Of Sheba

Dawn

I wrote this piece for one of my school percussion ensembles trying to fill a gap in percussion ensemble drumming pieces. In my search for great pieces, some were too hard, others too easy. So, I decided to write my own.

The piece also draws inspiration from funk and Taiko drumming. It also pays homage to the great percussion composer Kevin Tuck and his piece Summon the Spirits, who has created drumming pieces that are the staple of percussion music all around the world.

As always, the aim is that the ensemble has fun and enjoys the groove. Coming from a long background of Latin and African drumming styles, my compositions place a heavy emphasis on feeling the rhythm and hearing all the parts lock in, rather than being accurate.

To purchase this piece, head to: https://www.tsoofbaras.com/music/storm-the-gate/

Storm The Gate

WOW Tsoof this is gorgeous!  I love it.  What a sound! – Elliot Cole

Gloria is a chorale for Harmonic Whirlies. This piece, like some of my others, focuses on teamwork and the idea of ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’.

This piece was written for the 2019 Percussion Spectacular, hosted by Somerville House in Brisbane, Australia.

In this composition, each player represents a set of notes in a specific harmonic series associated with their whirlies. Together, the ensemble creates harmony and resonates within the space.

This piece is beautiful when performed in large auditoriums, churches or halls.

To purchase the piece, head to: https://www.tsoofbaras.com/music/gloria/

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