Hillslope Evolution (Perc Ens 11 + Piano)

Hillslope Evolution is an exciting, groovy work for large percussion ensemble that represents the changes of erosion rates that form the slopes of hills and mountains over time. These changes are inevitable and occur at irregular rates, but the slopes are always being altered and morphed into something new. Similarly, this piece depicts the changes that occur irregularly over time.

Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 11 + Piano
Series: N/A
Level: Medium Advanced | Duration: 6:10

Instrumentation
Glockenspiel
Vibraphone 1
Vibraphone 2
Marimba 1 [4.3-octave]
Marimba 2 [4.3-octave]
Marimba 3 [4.5-octave]
Marimba 4 [5-octave]
Timpani [5 drums]
Piano

Percussion 1: Hi-Hat, 4 Toms, Snare Drum, China Cymbal
Percussion 2: Suspended Cymbal, 3 Woodblocks (or Temple Blocks), Bongos, Vibraslap
Percussion 3: Bass Drum, 2 Triangles, Tam-Tam

Program Notes
The entire idea for this piece was for me to push past my limits as a composer and try new and innovative compositional techniques. Basically, I wanted to use musical ideas and strategies that I was always told never to use because they simply did not fit the mold of most music. To do this, I used the F# locrian scale consistently throughout the work, used a non-traditional tetrachord as the center of the piece, used serialism and a 12-tone row in a non-educational setting, flooded the piece with mixed meter, and emphasized timbral writing over melodic and harmonic writing.

"Hillslope Evolution represents the changes of erosion rates that form the slopes of hills and mountains over time. These changes are inevitable and occur at irregular rates, but the slopes are always being altered and morphed into something new. Similarly, this piece depicts the changes that occur irregularly over time.

– J.D.C.