Gossamer - Jonah Sendlin [DIGITAL]

A Gossamer is a light, filmy substance, most often composed of cobwebs and spider webs, that is most often seen drifting through clear autumn air. This work for large percussion ensemble provides a musical interpretation of this image. Themes, melodies, and harmonies weave and invert around each other as if tracing the various paths of a web, while occasional meter changes aid the effect of floating through changing winds.

Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 14 + Piano
Level: Medium Advanced | Duration: 6:45

Instrumentation
Conductor's Score (8.5"x11" spiral bound)

Glockenspiel 1
Glockenspiel 2
Crotales (2 octaves)
Xylophone & Chimes (shared)
Vibraphone 1
Vibraphone 2
Marimba 1 (4-octave)
Marimba 2 (4-octave)*
Marimba 3 (5-octave)*

Piano

Timpani (4 drums), Single Crotale (D4)
Percussion 1: Waterphone (may substitute bowed Tam-Tam or Bell Tree played with triangle beaters), Suspended Cymbal
Percussion 2: 4 Concert Toms, Triangle
Percussion 3: Tam-Tam, Temple Blocks, Mark Tree
Percussion 4: Concert Bass Drum, Chimes (shared)

*Marimbas 2 & 3 may share on 5-octave instrument. It will be a little cozy, so do so at your own risk!

Program Notes
A Gossamer is a light, filmy substance, most often composed of cobwebs and spider webs, that is most often seen drifting through clear autumn air. This piece provides a musical interpretation of this image. Themes, melodies, and harmonies weave and invert around each other as if tracing the various paths of a web, while occasional meter changes aid the effect of floating through changing winds. Though the beginning and ending sections are met with a heavier orchestration, much of this piece is light and jubilant, as players weave their individual sounds into a glorious web - a Gossamer.