Boy, Oh Boy - Josh Gottry [DIGITAL SCORE]

Using a lullaby setting of a Swedish folk melody, this work adds plenty of percussion to represent a day in the life of a toddler. A fun, yet sentimental piece.

Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 8
Level: Medium | Duration: 4:30

Instrumentation
Vibraphone (3-octave)
Xylophone
Marimba 1 (4-octave)
Marimba 2 (4.3-octave)
Timpani
3 Woodblocks
Snare Drum
Bongos
Congas

Program Notes
Written for my one-year-old son Caleb, this piece opens with a simple lullaby setting of a Swedish folk melody from the hymn Children of the Heavenly Father. At the presto, a day begins with the woodblock part signifying the continual progression of time. The texture gradually thickens as toys are strewn around the house. The chord progression beginning five bars after letter A, spells out Caleb’s name (Cmin, Abmin, Fmin7 substitute for “L” Eb, Bb). The progression is then restated with a slightly busier ostinato. The hymn melody returns over new ideas in the mallet instruments, while the snare, woodblocks, and hand drums continue the 5/4 patterns into the 4/4 time signature. A final statement of the chord progression is made at letter F followed by the gradual thinning of the texture as the day winds down. A short lullaby recap closes the piece and the woodblock begins again to serve as a reminder that the next day is coming soon. - Josh Gottry