Elemental Dances (Perc Ens 4)

Elemental Dances is a work for 5 timpani and percussion trio based on several segments of Native American music, mixing the sounds of world percussion with contemporary ideas commonly found in percussion ensemble literature.

Genre: Solo Timpani with Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 3 + Solo Timpani
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 15:00

Instrumentation
Solo Timpani (5 drums)

Percussion 1 (Pedal Bass Drum, Floor Tom, 2 Congas (or other ethnic drums*), Rainstick (or other rain effect), Brake Drum, Sizzle Cymbal, China Cymbal, Ride Cymbal, Xylophone)
Percussion 2 (Tambourine (darker tone), Fixed Drum (not snare drum), Vibraphone)
Percussion 3 (Tambourine (brighter tone), Rainstick (or other rain effect), Low African Drum, 5-octave Marimba)

Program Notes
Elemental Dances is a work composed in 2011/2012 as a way of exploring the practicality of literature utilizing five timpani as a solo instrument. The work is based on several segments of Native American music, mixing the sounds of world percussion with contemporary ideas commonly found in percussion ensemble literature.

1. Fire Dance: A simple exploration of a Native American celebration and explores the rhythms of their dances.

2. Rain Dance: A literal translation of a Native American rain dance with the addition of contemporary keyboard harmonies.

3. Storm Dance: An artistic follow-up to the Rain Dance, where the noises of a storm are explored in the context of the first movement’s rhythms.