Carve Into Me What You Call Love (Perc Ens 9)

Carve Into Me What You Call Love is a primarily through-composed work for 9 percussionists. While not directly “about” anyone, the work aims to capture the feeling of frustration of balancing who you are and who someone wants you to be.

Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 9
Level: Medium Advanced | Duration: 10:00

Instrumentation
Score (8.5"x11" spiral bound)
Vibraphone 1: 3-octave w/ bass bow
Vibraphone 2: 3-octave w/ bass bow
Marimba 1: 4-octave
Marimba 2: 4-octave
Marimba 3: 5-octave
Marimba 4: 5-octave
Drum Set: Kick Drum, Snare Drum, Floor Tom (large), Brake Drum, Hi-Hat, Large Crash Cymbal (apx. 18’’), Smaller Crash Cymbal (optional for ease of playing), Ride Cymbal, Cymbal Stack
Percussion 1: Sizzle Cymbal, Large Triangle, Djembe, Bell Tree, Small Shaker (or two “one-shot” shakers)
Percussion 2: Concert Bass Drum (w/ removable mute), Tam-Tam, Large Suspended Cymbal (18-20’’), 3 Concert Toms (smaller; 10-12-14), Medium Shaker

Program Notes
Carve Into Me What You Call Love is a primarily through-composed work. While not directly “about” anyone, the work aims to capture the feeling of frustration of balancing who you are and who someone wants you to be.

This piece was commissioned by Andy P. Smith and the University of Texas at El Paso Percussion Ensemble in 2023 for their performance at that year’s Texas Music Educators Association Convention.