Drums of Moria (Perc Ens 5-9+)

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1. Percussive Notes New Literature Review

   I am a huge fan of C. Alan Publication’s “Ignite series” for several reasons. The company continues to publish new works for the developing ensemble where percussion ensemble skills can be taught from the ground up, instrumentation is usually flexible and requires only those found in the traditional middle school band room, and the works are often quick and fun for both the young players and the audience.
   
   Nathan Daughtrey’s newly expanded ensemble, “Drums of Moria,” continues in that vein. Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s fictional underground mines and dwellings beneath the Misty Mountains described in both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Daughtrey centralizes the ensemble around powerful drum parts with aggressive mallet parts as complements. Although the material used is relatively limited, Daughtrey does a great job at varying the instrumentation and dynamics to create interest throughout. For example, the piece remains in D minor, and the various mallet licks are repeated numerous times during the work, helping those players learn their parts more easily while also providing stability in the arrangement. This is countered with interjecting drum passages and a few fun performance aesthetics the students and audiences will both enjoy; the drummers play on the rim frequently as well as clicking sticks together to create both primal and tribal effects.
   
   “Drums of Moria” as an ensemble can be performed with five or more players. The instrumentation in the score lists several options for expanding beyond the five, with nine unique parts and the option to double several others. Some of the optional parts are more significant to the overall aesthetic than others, so directors will need to use discretion with which parts to include or leave out depending on their ensemble size.
   
   With a total time between just two and three minutes, this piece is perfect for beginning and developing percussionists. Driving drum rhythms and catchy minor melodies help to propel this piece for a quick, exciting concert closer or opener.
   
   Matthew Geiger
   Percussive Notes
   Vol. 59, No. 2, April 2021 Matthew Geiger on Jun 16th 2022