Bomba (Harrison)
General Info
Year: 1939
Duration: c. 2'40"
Difficulty: 4 (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: WarnerBros
Cost: Score and Parts - $9.95
Instrumentation
Player I: maracas, 3 flower pots
Player II: metal rattles, 3 muted brake drums, 3 suspended brake drums
Player III: thunder sheet, 3 temple blocks
Player IV: rasp, 3 Chinese wood blocks
Player V: tam-tam, bass drum
Errata
Program Notes
Online Review
Credit must be given to Warner Bros. Publications for including "Bomba," a percussion quintet, and "Simfony #13," a percussion quartet, in a "Master Percussion Ensemble Series." No one deserves this honor more than Lou Harrison, one of the significant composers of the 20th century, particularly important for his interest in non-Western source material and his contributions to music for percussion instruments. Both pieces reflect his interest in unconventional instruments. "Bomba" is scored for three flower pots, brake drums, thundersheet, metal rattle, and rasp, in addition to more conventional concert instruments. In "Simfony #13," each player confronts a large setup including five woodblocks, six water buffalo bells, seven cowbells, five temple blocks, ten brake drums, and elephant bell, plus triangle, suspended cymbal, gong, tam tam, seven toms and a "contra bass drum." Much of the music in these two works is written in a contrapuntal style and treats the instruments in a melodic manner, with patterns often phrased over barlines, setting up rhythmic dissonances between parts, not unlike the writing found in pieces such as Cage's "Third Construction." These two works can be considered "classics," along with the contributions of composers such as Cage, Varèse, and Stockhausen. - John R. Raush, December 1998 [1]
Awards
Commercial Discography
Recent Performances
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Emporia State University Percussion Ensemble - November 29, 2017 - Albert Taylor Concert Hall - "Doomsday" Concert
Works for Percussion by this Composer
A Tribute to Charon (Passage throught Darkness/Counterdance in Spring) - Percussion Trio
Ariadne - Solo Percussion and Flute acc.
Beverly's Troubadour Piece - Percussion and Harp
Bomba (Harrison) - Percussion Quintet
Canticle No. 1 - Percussion Quintet
Canticle No. 3 - Percussion Quartet; Ocarina; Guitar (6 Players)
Concerto for Organ with Percussion Orchestra - Percussion Octet; Organ, Piano
Concerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestra - Percussion Quintet, Violin
Double Fanfare - Percussion Ensemble 12 - Harrison/Cirone
Double Music - Percussion Quartet - Cage/Harrison
Fifth Simfony - Percussion Quartet
First Concerto - Percussion Duo and Flute
Fugue - Percussion Quartet
In Praise of Johnny Appleseed (for Dance and Percussion) - Percussion Trio; Flute; Dancer
Labyrinth No. 3 - Percussion Ensemble (11)
Orpheus - for the Singer to the Dance - Percussion Ensemble (15); Solo Voice; Chorus
Serenade - Percussion; Guitar
Simfony No. 13 - Percussion Quartet
Suite - Percussion Quintet
Suite No. 1 - Percussion; Guitar
The Drums of Orpheus - from the ballet "Orpheus"
The Song of Queztecoatl - Percussion Quartet
Additional Resources