Catacombs (Perc Ens 4)

Catacombs are defined as a human made system of underground tombs that was originally referred to the tombs of the Appian Way in Rome. The journey ventures into the deep catacombs in search of knowledge and treasure.

Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 4
Level: Difficult | Duration: 7:50

Instrumentation
Percussion 1 (Vibraphone, Marimba)
Percussion 2 (Marimba [4-octave])
Percussion 3 (Marimba [5-octave/Bass])
Percussion 4 (Marimba [5-octave/Bass])

Program Notes
Catacombs are defined as a human made system of underground tombs that was originally referred to the tombs of the Appian Way in Rome. This piece was inspired by the journey between the 2nd and 3rd milestones of the Appian Way, where it is said that the bodies of the apostles Peter and Paul had been buried. The journey ventures into the deep catacombs in search of knowledge and treasure. The theme portrays the lust for treasure and power and goes through a number of different rhythmic variations to portray the exciting and dangerous journey. Percussion 1 ventures through both wooden and metallic sounds as it is the leading role throughout the piece. As the piece goes through the exposition, Percussion 4 uses a combination of yarn and slap mallets to portray the shock and multiple sounds that are heard through the underground passages. The piece then goes into a small development and ventures into abstract and augmented chords that differentiates and alleviates the dissonance from the exposition. When the piece reaches the recapitulation, the use of the first ostinato pattern is embellished through an array of multiple rhythms between the four marimbas to create straight 16th notes across the measures. The piece then peaks with unison hits to create tension as it finally transitions into a pattern of 16th notes as every instrument plays the theme at different times to create a single melodic line. This climax then transitions back into the first A section of the piece as it ends almost the same way it began.