Totem
General Info
Year: 1989
Duration: c. 4:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Non Sequitur
Cost: Score and Parts - $15.00 | Score Only - $0.00
Movements
Can be played in a series in the following order:
Totem
Secrets
The Way of the Animal Powers
Instrumentation
Player I - VI: two xylophones, two marimbas, two log drums, five temple blocks, and two wood blocks
Program Notes
Totem was written in April and June of 1989. It is for six percussionists, all playing wooden instruments. I wanted to create a unified percussion ensemble where the kinds of instruments played by the group would be made of the same material. Totem is part of a trio of percussion sextets which operate under this principle.
Musically the piece deals with issues of mythology and ritual, which have been influencing my music from time to time for a while. I find these influences difficult to portray in strictly instrumental works, particularly since I wish also to remain true to other artistic instincts which I think are important (and perhaps necessary) for my music. That being said, writing for percussion gives one probably the easiest ensemble with which to evoke feelings of ritual, mythology and all their correlating concepts.
Note: Totem can be performed separately or as part of the above mentioned trio of percussion sextets. If all three are played, the order of the pieces is Totem, Secrets, and The Way of the Animal Powers.[1]
Review
On Totem: "The keyboard players must have adequate four-mallet skills in order to employ double vertical strokes. Difficulties within this ensemble include: dovetailing of rhythms between voices, lining up triplets and sextuplets against 16th notes, and rhythmical precision of unison sections."
On the whole set (also includes Secrets and The Way of the Animal Powers): "All three of Heuser's works would be appropriate for college-level or professional players. Heuser is tireless in his experimentation with sounds and timbres; therefore Totem, Secrets, and The Way of the Animal Powers are worthwhile for performers and audiences alike." - Lisa Rogers, February 1997[2]
Errata
Awards
Commercial Discography
Recent Performances
- Georgia State University School of Music Percussion Ensemble, Stuart Gerber, artistic director (November 2008)
- St. Olaf Percussion Ensemble, Carl Holmquist, conductor (November 2004)
- St. Cloud State University Percussion Ensemble, Dr. Terry Vermillion, director (March 2002)
- USF Percussion Ensemble, Robert McCormick, conductor (November 1996)
- Glassboro State College Percussion Ensemble, Dean Witten, conductor (November 1989)
To submit a performance please join the TEK Percussion Database
Works for Percussion by this Composer
Baby Toys - Percussion Quartet
Blow Up - Multiple Percussion
Blow Up (MIDI) - Multiple Percussion
Five Views of the River - Marimba Duo
Flood - Marimba/Vibraphone; Flute or Clarinet
Flood (Duo) - Percussion Duo
Going to Vermont - Marimba (Amplified); with Tape
Not here, but there - Percussion Ensemble (12)
Secrets - Percussion Sextet
Still Life with Fruit - Multiple Percussion; Flute
The Way of the Animal Powers - Percussion Sextet
Totem - Percussion Sextet
Additional Resources
References