D.N.R. (Percussion Quintet)

D.N.R., or “Do Not Resuscitate” is a legally recognized order signed by a physician at a patient’s request. A D.N.R. means the patient does not want to be resuscitated if they suddenly go into cardiac arrest. The initial musical idea is a call and response between the tom toms and bass drum that sounds very similar to a heartbeat…or at least one with arrhythmia!

Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 5
Series: N/A
Level: Medium Advanced | Duration: 5:35

Instrumentation
Score (8.5"x11" stapled booklet)

Player 1: Snare Drum, Hi-Hat
Player 2: 4 Concert Toms, China Cymbal
Player 3: Tam-Tam, High Woodblock, Log Drum (3 pitches)
Player 4: Multi-Bass Drum, Zil-Bel (or similar), Ride Cymbal
Player 5: Field Drum, 3 Cowbells

Program Notes
D.N.R., or “Do Not Resuscitate” is a legally recognized order signed by a physician at a patient’s request. A D.N.R. means the patient does not want to be resuscitated if they suddenly go into cardiac arrest. The piece was written in the spring of 2024. I fortunate to have a great group of freshmen performers in my percussion group who needed another piece to perform. We needed a solid drum piece for 5 players so I immediate got to work on it. The initial musical idea is a call and response between the tom toms and bass drum that sounds very similar to a heartbeat…or at least one with arrhythmia!

– B.W.D.

Hamiruge – The LSU Percussion Group, Directed by Brett Dietz