Toboggan

John Herndon

General Info

Year: 2015
Publisher: Tapspace Publications
Level: Elementary
Duration: 00:02:00
Cost: $30.00

Instrumentation

Player 1: Glockenspiel
Player 2: Xylophone
Player 3: Vibraphone
Player 4: Marimba
Player 5: Marimba
Player 6: Timpani
Player 7: Sleigh Bells
Player 8: Snare Drum with brushes
Player 9: Suspended Cymbal & Crash Cymbals & Slapstick
Player 10: Bass Drum & Triangle & Tambourine

Program Notes

Toboggan by John Herndon is a delightful work for young percussionists depicting a short, fast ride on a small sled. The piece starts by capturing the excitement of finding new-fallen snow. The descent swishes and jingles at high speed through sudden direction changes, patches of rough snow, and the gentle rising and falling of fresh powder. Toboggan ends, as sled rides often do, with a playful crash into a snowdrift. The piece makes for a great introduction to mallet percussion using mainly stepwise motion for the melody and supporting roles. The accompanying orchestral battery parts should fall well within the range of most beginners.

Review

“Toboggan” is a simply delightful work by John Herndon for beginning or intermediate percussion ensemble that depicts a short, fast ride on a small sled. At least ten players are needed, and the piece uses standard percussion instruments that should be found in every band room.

The composer states, “The piece starts by capturing the excitement of finding new-fallen snow. The descent swishes and jingles at high speed through sudden direction changes, patches of rough snow, and the gentle rising and falling of fresh powder. ‘Toboggan’ ends, as sled rides often do, with a playful crash into a snowdrift.”

The parts are expertly written to accommodate the varying levels of a middle school percussionist while providing a fun challenging experience for all. It is especially excellent that “Toboggan” gives players a chance to apply some basic technical skills (scales, natural sticking, reading, and dynamics) that most beginning and intermediate percussionists would be working on already.

“Toboggan” would be a welcome addition to any fall or holiday concert and will help codify important skills for percussionists. BY Joe Millea

Works for Percussion by this Composer

Again (Herndon) - Percussion Ensemble 12 players
Begin Transmission - Percussion Ensemble 13 players
Close Your Eyes and Dream - Percussion Ensemble 6-8 players
Flotsam & Jetsam - Percussion Quartet 4+ players
Great and Small - Mallet Percussion, optional audio accompaniment.
Guac is Extra - Percussion Quartet
Jalopy - Percussion Octet
Mutiny! - Percussion Ensemble 12 players
Rivers Sun - Percussion Ensemble 12 players
Sic Semper Draconis - Percussion Ensemble 12 players
Standard Candles - Percussion Sextet
Toboggan - Percussion Ensemble