Four For Five
General Info
Subtitle: A Collection of Four Grade I Ensembles
Year of Publication: 2014
Publisher: Row-Loff Productions
Duration: 00:07:00
Cost: 40.00
Content
Drum It Up - 00:02:23
Actin' Latin - 00:01:26
Snare Flair -00:01:38
Can-Do Attitude - 00:01:33
Instrumentation
Drum It Up
Player 1: Snare Drum
Player 2: 2 Tom-Toms
Player 3: Cymbal
Player 4: Bass Drum
Player 5: 2 Timpani
Actin' Latin
Player 1: Vibraphone / Glockenspiel
Player 2: Xylophone / Marimba
Player 3: Hand Drum / Conga
Player 4: Bongos
Player 5: Maracas & Cowbell
Snare Flair
Player 1: Snare Drum
Player 2: Snare Drum
Player 3: Snare Drum
Player 4: Snare Drum
Player 5: Snare Drum
Can-Do Attitude
Player 1: Metal Trash Can
Player 2: Metal Trash Can
Player 3: Metal Trash Can
Player 4: Metal Trash Can
Player 5: Rubber Trash Can
Program Notes
Actin’ Latin
The hand drum part can either be played on a conga (preferred) or any similar large drum. The staccato marks notate a muted sound played by hitting the drum with a flat hand in the middle of the head. Notes marked with an “o” are open tones; these are played by hitting the edge of the drum. To play the pattern, play a muted tone with the left hand. Leave the left hand on the drum. Hit an accented note with the right hand on the edge of the drum. Play another muted tone with the left hand, then lift the left hand off the drum for the open tones. Throughout the rest of the piece, all unmarked notes should be considered open tones. The drum parts should be careful not to overpower the mallet melodies. The maracas should be played with short, controlled strokes to make sure the rhythm is clearly articulated.
Snare Flair
The spins in mm. 25-26 should be simple. For the right hand, spin the tip of the stick in a clockwise motion along the horizontal plane by turning the wrist over, releasing the back three fingers (leaving the fulcrum), and then returning to playing position. Do the same for the left hand, except in a counterclockwise motion. If this is too difficult, other visuals can be substituted for those two counts, including a “sticks in/sticks out” visual. Get creative! If there is not enough time for Snares 4 and 5 to turn on their snares in m. 45, they can rest during m. 44 and use that extra time to turn on the snares. Keep the music stands as low and tilted back as possible so the audience can see the visual aspects of the piece, or perform it memorized.
Can-Do Attitude
The rubber can should be played with marching bass drum mallets, some that can provide articulation of rhythms yet produce a nice bass tone. All cans are turned upside down and played on the bottom.
Books for Percussion by this Composer
Toolbox Series
The Mallet Player's Toolbox
The Snare Drummer's Toolbox
Rhythmology Series
Rhythmology for Snare Drum
Rhythmology II for Keyboards and Timpani
Works for Percussion by this Composer
Percussion Ensemble Music
1st & 10
Clap Trap
Cobra
Down Under
Drums. Loud. Good.
Drums. Louder. Gooder.
Xolo
Percussion Ensemble Music Collection
Beatz
Four For Five
Triple Decker
Rockin' Your Socks
Quadruple Decker