Storm Surge

Robert Clayson

General Info

Year: 2021
Duration: 00:02:20
Difficulty: Intermediate
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Cost: $40.00

Instrumentation

Player 1: Glockenspiel
Player 2: Xylophone
Player 3: Vibraphone
Player 4: Chimes
Player 5: Marimba 1
Player 6: Marimba 2
Player 7: Timpani
Player 8: Triangle
Player 9: Tambourine
Player 10: 2 Concert Tom-toms
Player 11: Snare Drum
Player 12: Bass Drum

Program Notes

Storm Surge is a medium difficulty percussion ensemble piece that portrays a storm rampaging through a coastal town. The piece has a wide array of difficulty, so it will work well for groups that have multiple grade levels in one ensemble. Large coastal storms like hurricanes are often slow-moving, which means residents can see them coming. The hours before the storm hits are eerily calm, with a slow buildup to powerful winds, driving rain, and of course, storm surges. A storm surge is when a storm’s wind pushes sea water up onto the coast, above normal tide levels, often completely flooding coastal areas. Storm surges are very dangerous and can be devastating to coastal towns. Storm Surge captures this progression from eerie quiet to raucous destruction perfectly. The piece begins quietly enough, with the glockenspiel, marimba, and vibraphone moving through a simple, haunting melody. As the melody progresses, more instruments are added to the harmony, building up the tension until it crashes like waves upon the shore. The entire ensemble continues in a driving rhythm with a melancholy nautical melody, right up until the climactic conclusion.

Recent Performances

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Works for Percussion by this Composer

Marimba Works

Character Studies
Dance of the Music Box Figurines
In Spite of it All
Little Song
Marimba Miniatures
Mourning at Fort Polk
Nocturne
Tall Tales

Ensemble Works

Cloudburst
Fever Dream
Into the Fray
Island Breeze
Storm Surge
Ensemble Builders for Percussion