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Apex (Duet for 2 Multi-Percussion)
Genre: Duet for 2 Multi-Percussion
Series:
# of Players: 2
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 6:20
Publisher: C. Alan Publications | Copyright: 2019
Download mp3 | Click on images to left for score sample
Rating:
Price:
$24.00
Item #:
25960
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Notes & Instrumentation
The instrumentation for Apex represents an amalgamation different percussive sounds: glass bottles, pieces of wood, bell tree, toms, triangle, bongos, kick drum, and snare drum. The word Apex means high point; so much of the music begins at the higher pitched instruments and moves down in contour. This happens many times throughout the piece in each part continually bringing the listener back to the Apex of sound.
Genre: Duet for 2 Multi-Percussion | # of Players: 2
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 6:20
Instrumentation
Percussion 1 (Bell Tree, Bongos, Small Snare Drum, Kick Drum, 2 Triangles)
Percussion 2 (2 Glass Bottles, 3 Pieces of Wood, 4 Tom-Toms)
Program Notes
Apex was commissioned by and written for Manuel Rodriguez and Billy Sotuyo for their sophomore recitals at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. I thought it would be a good idea to write a piece for them using some of the more interesting sounds I heard in the percussion ensemble repertoire we were playing during the fall semester of 2018; so the instrumentation for Apex represents an amalgamation of those different percussive sounds. Glass bottles, pieces of wood, bell tree, toms, triangle, bongos, kick drum, and snare drum. The word Apex means high point; so much of the music begins at the higher pitched instruments and moves down in contour. This happens many times throughout the piece in each part continually bringing the listener back to the Apex of sound. -
Product Reviews
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Percussive Notes New Literature Review
“Apex” for multiple percussion duet was composed for the sophomore recitals of two of Joe Moore’s students. The title refers to the contour of the musical material, which often starts in the higher pitched instruments and moves down. The instrumentation is a mixture of traditional and “found” instruments, all indefinitely pitched.
Moore states in the program notes that he was inspired by the interesting sounds he heard in the percussion ensemble repertoire that semester. I hear perhaps some Cage/Harrison influence in the rhythmic material, as well as a quasi-prepared piano sound in the pieces of wood. I especially like the unique technique of playing on individual bells of a bell tree with triangle beaters. The small setups are also appealing, making this an ideal piece for performing on tour, school visits, etc.
The piece is in an ABA form (fast-slower-fast) and presents the performers with rhythmic challenges including eighth-note quintuplets, tempo modulation, and triplets phrased in groups of four. There are also a lot of dynamic changes throughout, making this a great piece for developing control and expression. “Apex” would work very well on an undergraduate recital, and I highly recommend it to those looking for a fun, drummy, rhythmically challenging piece.
Joseph Van Hassel
Percussive Notes
Vol. 59, No. 2 , April 2021 Joseph Van Hassel on Jun 16th 2022
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