Burning Coal (Perc Ens 8)

Burning Coal, a large percussion ensemble work set in three connected movements (flames, embers, & ashes), is a sonic portrayal of the liberties afforded us by the defence of our military.

Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 8
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 6:00

Instrumentation
Glockenspiel: Drum, Crotales (1-octave)
Xylophone: Drum
Vibraphone: Drum
Marimba 1 (4.0-octave): Drum
Marimba 2 (4.0-octave): Drum
Marimba 3 (5.0-octave): Drum
Percussion 1: Wind Chimes, Mounted Ratchet, Field Drum, Hi-Hat, China Cymbal,Triangle, Chime/Tuned Gong (B)
Percussion 2: Bass Drum, Crash Cymbal, 4 Concert Toms, Tam-Tam,Triangle, Chime/Tuned Gong (G)

Program Notes
Burning Coal was commissioned by the 2018 PASIC IPEC Winner, Walsh Middle School, and their director Chris Fauries. The piece is a three-movement percussion ensemble work for 8-12 players with each movement being attacca. My goal for this piece was to sonically portray the beauty of simple liberties afforded us by the defense of our military. The title and inspiration of the piece come from finding beauty in the simple act of burning coal in a barbecue grill and each movement is written to portray the process: I. flames... fast and vigorous, II. embers... sparkling and beautiful, III. ashes... settling and calm. Using the following pitches (A, B-flat, B, C, D-flat, E, F, G) I was able to capture the elements of beauty while also using dissonance to represent the sacrifices members of our military make for our freedoms. I hope this work inspires an appreciation for the simplest of liberties even making music. Enjoy!

-J.W.M. III