Cowabunga Rock (Perc Ens 5-6+)

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1. Percussive Notes New Literature Review

   Commissioned by a student member of the Hawaii Youth Percussion Ensemble, “Cowabunga Rock” is a medium-easy piece most suitable for middle-school percussionists. It is part of C. Alan Publications’ “Ignite Series,” designed for developing performers. As with other works in this series, the instrumentation, number of players, and tempo of “Cowabunga Rock” are flexible to meet the needs of the group.
   
   The piece pays homage to “surf music” made popular during the 1960s and provides opportunities for mallet and percussion playing. Dittgen gives very thorough performance notes, outlining details specific to individual parts and the overall piece. For example, he states that staccato markings are meant to be played as dead strokes or immediately dampened, and vibraphone may be played with the motor on to emulate the tremolo effects common in surf guitar playing.
   
   All parts seem equal in difficulty, requiring no four-mallet technique or complex rhythmic figures. While syncopation is prevalent throughout, nearly every gesture is performed in unison or by multiple members of the ensemble. In the middle section, most keyboard players transition to nonpitched percussion and embellish the groove before returning to their original instruments.
   
   “Cowabunga Rock” offers a plethora of educational value including expansive dynamics, larger phrasing ideas, and the intricacies of chamber playing. I am certain any percussionist in an 8th grade or freshman percussion class would have a blast performing this work.
   
   Danielle Moreau
   PERCUSSIVE NOTES
   VOL. 59, NO. 3, JUNE 2021 Danielle Moreau on Jun 29th 2022