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Convective Motives - Michael Varner [DIGITAL]
Genre: Percussion Ensemble
# of Players: 6
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 6:30
Publisher: C. Alan Publications | Copyright: 2019
Download mp3 | Click on images to left for score sample
Rating:
Price:
$40.00
Item #:
26180D
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Notes & Instrumentation
This percussion sextet written predominantly in 6/4 phrases in alternating bars of 5/8 and 7/8. The 6/4 motivic development blends and creates a rhythmic tension against the 2-3-2-2-3 beaming. A rhythmic motif of sixteenth notes on the “two” groupings drive the piece toward mysterious or aggressive versions of the motif. Intertwined are micro and macro rhythmic development so that often 5/8-7/8 will be overlaid with 5/16-7/16 or 5/4-7/4 developments.
Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 6
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 6:30
Instrumentation
Percussion 1 (Marimba, 2 Medium Toms)
Percussion 2 (Marimba, Bongos, Suspended Cymbal)
Percussion 3 (Marimba, 2 Low Congas)
Percussion 4 (Bass Marimba, 2 Low Toms)
Percussion 5 (Vibraphone, 2 Medium Congas)
Percussion 6 (Bells, 2 Gongs, China Cymbal, Medium Crash Cymbals, Ribbon Crasher, 2 Medium Congas, Hi-HatTwo Woodblocks, Multi Drum, Bass Drum)
Program Notes
Convective Motives is a percussion sextet premiered by the University of Texas at Arlington Percussion Ensemble November 2016. It is a “footprint” composition meaning the setup and instrumentation are the same as Prevalent Motives allowing a transition without delay from one piece to the next. The composition, written predominantly in 6/4, intriguingly phrases in alternating patterns of 5/8 and 7/8. The 6/4 patterns blend and create a unique rhythmic challenge for the players. -
Video
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Convective Motives Percussion Ensemble sextet
This percussion sextet was composed after returning from a trip to Hungary in 2016. I was interested in the Hungarian tonality and rhythmic aspects of that fascinating country found throughout the music of Bela Bartok. The piece pays tribute to the interplay between many cultures in Hungary represented by integrating percussive sounds with melodic fragments. Written predominantly in 6/4, it actually phrases in alternating bars of 5/8 and 7/8. The 6/4 motivic development blends and creates a rhythmic tension against the 2-3-2-2-3 beaming. A rhythmic motif of sixteenth notes on the “two” groupings drive the piece sometimes toward mysterious and other times aggressive presentations of the motif. Like many of my works I have intertwined the use of micro and macro rhythmic development so that often 5/8-7/8 will be overlaid with 5/16-7/16 or 5/4-7/4 developments of themes. conVective motiVes was premiered by the University of Texas at Arlington Percussion Ensemble in November 2016. It is a “footprint” composition meaning the setup and instrumentation are the same as my partner composition “preValent motiVes” allowing ensembles to transition seamlessly without delay from one piece to the next.
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Product Reviews
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Percussive Notes New Literature Review
“Convective Motives” is quite fast at 152 bpm, and while the parts themselves are not overly difficult, the speed adds an extra layer of challenge. The beginning has some interesting extended techniques, such as bowing cymbals and gongs, scraping them with triangle beaters, playing tom-toms with hands, and playing congas with brushes. This quickly gives way to traditional stick and mallet playing, with the occasional return to hands. The rhythms are syncopated, and frequently the same passage is shared between players starting at different parts in the bar. The piece is written primarily in 6/4 and is often notated with 2-3-2-2-3 beaming, which is sometimes effective but sometimes makes reading the rhythms more difficult. The dynamics are expansive in a sweeping percussion ensemble style. They offer a pedagogical opportunity for students to work on dynamic control at fast tempos.
This piece was written to match the same setup and instrumentation of Varner’s work “Prevalent Motives” so that they can be performed back to back without having to change the setup. “Convective Motives” doesn’t reinvent the wheel of the percussion sextet, but it does contain elements that would be exciting for intermediate players, and it would be a good choice for a program looking for a lively piece to add to the repertoire.
Marilyn K. Clark Silva
Percussive Notes
Vol. 59, No. 2, April 2021 Marilyn K. Clark Silva on Jun 16th 2022
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