Opa!
General Info
Year of Published: 2022
Publisher: Tapspace
Difficulty: Intermediate
Duration: 00:02:50
Cost: $36.00
Instrumentation
Player 1: Glockenspiel
Player 2: Xylophone
Player 3: Vibraphone
Player 4: Marimba 1
Player 5: Marimba 2
Player 6: Chimes
Player 7: Timpani
Player 8: Drumset
Player 9: Bongos & Temple Blocks
Player 10: Hand Cymbals & Tambourine & Finger Cymbals & Cabasa & Bell Tree & Doumbek
Descriptions
Brian Slawson wrote Opa! as a celebration of Grandparents’ Day - a holiday that honors the bonds between grandparents and grandchildren. The title holds two meanings: Firstly, “opa!” is a Greek expression often cheered at weddings and Greek dances. The word also translates to “grandpa” in German, a fitting coincidence for the meaning behind the piece! Musically, the work takes inspiration from multiple sources. The slow, call-and-response introduction is loosely inspired by the counterpoint of Bach. Soon after, the tempo picks up as the full ensemble breaks into exuberant music-making, including several zany quotes from Pachelbel’s Canon in D. This piece is a great addition to the intermediate ensemble repertoire for any festive occasion!
Recent Performance
Works for Percussion by this Composer
{Slawson, Brian Works}}