Symphony No. 1 for Percussion Ensemble

Composer Name

General Info

Year: 1964
Duration: c. 20:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Columbia
Cost: Score and Parts - $0.00 | Score Only - $0.00

Movements

1. Presto
2. Adagio molto
3. Allegro vivo

Instrumentation

Player I - VIII: timpani(4), xylophone, orchestra bells, snare drums(2), tom-tom, tenor drum, bass drum, triangle, tambourine, wood block, finger cymbal, cymbals α2, suspended cymbal

Program Notes

Review

This extended, three movement work for Percussion octet is marked advanced by the publisher and is scored for orchestra bells, xylophone and various standard orchestral percussion instruments (including 4 timpani). The two keyboard percussion parts include single-line writing, some double. stops, rolls and glisses, but no mallet suggestions. The cymbal and small concert percussion parts contain straight-forward writing with detailed performance directions and mallet choices. The drum parts are also straightforward and contain single-stoke writing with some rolls and flams with few Performance directions. The lead snare drum part is the most difficult of these parts. The .timpani part is difficult note-wise, but requires no pedal technique during each movement, with tuning changes occurring only between movements. Movement I (Presto) is written in 2/4 and 3/8, both sectionally and as changing meters. The 2 keyboard percussion parts seem to have the main thematic content with rhythmic counterpoint and accompaniment provided by the other instruments. (Adagio molto) is written in 5/4, again with the keyboard percussion instruments the main thematic matierals. Sustained sounds and rolls, punctuating rhythmic outbursts, hocket-like sections and pointillistic passages highlight the movement. Movement III (Allegro vivo) is written mostly in 4/4 and 2/2. A middle section starting in 8/8-with changes 7/8, 5/8, 2/8, 4/8, 3/4, 6/8, 4/4-leads to an extended timpani cadenza. The whole of the movement is very drummy, with the timpani being the dominant instrument much of the time. A section with several irregular-length ostinatos is of special interest. Suitable as an example of an extended work is symphonic form for standard instruments. The piece does not rely on gimmicks, unusual performance practics, exotic instruments, etc. Would serve nicely as the focus of a semester's work for a good high school ensemble, or as the main feature of a younger university percussion ensemble concert. - John Baldwin, December 1992^[1]

Errata

Awards

Commercial Discography

Audio: Reference recording. Schlagwerk Linz (Movement 1)
Audio: Reference recording. Schlagwerk Linz (Movement 2)
Audio: Reference recording. Schlagwerk Linz (Movement 3)

Recent Performances

To submit a performance please join the TEK Percussion Database

Works for Percussion by this Composer

Ensemble

Large Ensemble

Cairo Suite - Percussion Ensemble (9)
Dichotomy - Percussion Ensemble (8)
Double Fanfare - Percussion Ensemble (12) - Harrison/Cirone

Solo

4-Mallet Etudes for Marimba
4-Mallet Marimba Solos
4-Mallet Studies for Marimba, Volume VI
NYSD: Orchestral Suite for Solo Snare Drum
Unaccompanied Solos for Marimba

Sonata

Sonata No. 1 for Timpani and Piano - Timpani; Piano
Sonata No. 2 for Trumpet and Percussion - Percussion; Trumpet
Sonata No. 3 for Clarinet and Percussion - Percussion; Clarinet
Sonata No. 4 for Violin and Percussion - Percussion; Violin; Piano

Symphony

Symphony No. 1 for Percussion Ensemble - Percussion Ensemble (8)
Symphony No. 2 for Percussion - Percussion Ensemble (9)
Symphony No. 3 (Sacred) - Percussion Sextet

Books for Percussion by this Composer

Cirone's Pocket Dictionary of Foreign Musical Terms
Master Technique Builders for Snare Drum
Master Technique Builders for Vibraphone and Marimba
On Musical Interpretation in Percussion Performance

Portraits Series

Portraits for Drum Set
Portraits for Multiple Percussion
Portraits in Melody
Portraits in Rhythm
Portraits in Rhythm – Complete Study Guide
Portraits in Rhythm – Spanish Language Edition (Traducción al Español por Omar Ruiz-Oliver)
Portraits in Rhythm – With Japanese Subtitles
Portraits for Timpani

Simple Steps Series

Simple Steps to Keyboard Percussion
Simple Steps to Percussion Ensemble
Simple Steps to Snare Drum
Simple Steps to Timpani

Orchestral Technique

The Orchestral Mallet Player
The Orchestral Snare Drummer
The Orchestral Timpanist
Orchestral Techniques of the Standard Percussion Instruments
The Art of Bass Drum and Cymbal Playing
The Art of Percussion Playing
The Art of Percussion Accessory Playing
The Great American Symphony Orchestra
The Logic of it All: Professional Secrets Applying Imagination to Percussion Techniques
Symphonic Repertoire for Cymbals
Symphonic Repertoire for Keyboard Percussion
Symphonic Repertoire for Percussion Accessories
Symphonic Repertoire for Snare Drum

Additional Resources

References

↑ PAS.ORG

[1] PAS.ORG

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