Dead in the Water (Percussion Sextet)

Dead in the Water is new, creative sextet for "accessory" percussion, which juxtaposes the textures of standard orchestral accessories with that of tuned gongs. Slowly, the gongs overtake the role of the accessories, before becoming (literally) submerged themselves.

Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 6
Level: Intermediate | Duration: 4:30

Instrumentation
Score (8.5"x11" stapled booklet)
Percussion 1: Tambourine, Tuned Gong (C5)
Percussion 2: 2 Triangles (mounted), Tuned Gong (Bb4)
Percussion 3: Large Suspended Cymbal, Tuned Gong (G4)
Percussion 4: 2 Caxixi or Maracas, Tuned Gong (F4)
Percussion 5: Castanets, Tuned Gong (Eb4)
Percussion 6: Tam-Tam, Tuned Gong (C4)

Program Notes
Dead in the Water begins as an etude for orchestral “accessories”, where instruments are grouped in pairs or trios based on similar timbres or playing techniques. The orchestral instruments are then juxtaposed against interjections from tuned Thai gongs. As the piece continues, the role of the ancillary gongs begins to grow, eventually overtaking the accessories. In the second movement, the gongs become submerged themselves, in a polyrhythmic study for 6 pitched water gongs.

Dead in the Water is dedicated to the Fall 2024 Elon University Percussion Ensemble.

– I.P.