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Indescribable (Perc Ens 10)
Genre: Percussion Ensemble
# of Players: 10
Level: Medium | Duration: 10:15
Publisher: C. Alan Publications | Copyright: 2019
Download mp3 | Click on images to left for score sample
Rating:
Price:
$40.00
Item #:
26090
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Notes & Instrumentation
ELECTRONIC ACCOMPANIMENT DOWNLOAD
Indescribable captures the immense devastation caused by two major tornadoes in the Midwestern United States and the hope of a new beginning afterwards.
Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 10
Level: Medium | Duration: 10:15
Instrumentation
Bells
Vibraphone 1
Vibraphone 2
Marimba 1 (4-octave)*
Marimba 2 (4-octave)
Marimba 3 (4.3-octave)[opt. 5-oct.]*
Timpani (4 drums)
Percussion 1(Mark Tree, China Cymbal)
Percussion 2 (Suspended Cymbal, Wind Chimes, Tam-Tam)
Percussion 3 (Triangles, Bass Drum)
*Marimba 1 and 3 may share one instrumentProgram Notes
ELECTRONIC ACCOMPANIMENT DOWNLOAD
One of the most visceral events I’ve experienced occurred on May 22, 2011 while storm chasing with my father. Our path took us near the city of Joplin, where we arrived ten minutes after an EF5 tornado leveled a large part of town. Soon afterwards I wrote this piece both in honor of the tornado's victims as well as to show respect for the sheer power and destructive potential of these storms. Two years later I found myself in Oklahoma, just in time to witness the devastation that another EF5 tornado wrought on the city of Moore. I have since added a dedication to the victims of that storm as well.
I’ve attempted to depict the series of events that occurred during those outbreaks, starting with a glorious sunrise and gradually progressing through the gathering clouds to the tornado’s arrival. After the storm leaves there is a mournful section, reflecting the overwhelming sense of despair and grief at the destruction and death tornadoes inevitably leave behind. What is shown afterwards, however, is something that all of us have within them, something that allows us to rebuild and move on with our lives even if left with absolutely nothing. This is the one thing that is truly indescribable, the one thing that remains after these Boxes of Pandora are opened, to show there is more to this world than evil and despair, and that is hope.
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Product Reviews
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Percussive Notes New Literature Review
Bryce Craig has written a piece for percussion ensemble that not only calls for meaningful improvisation but is both programmatic and approachable. While different in their intent, this piece is comparable to a percussion ensemble interpretation of Daniel Bukvich’s popular “Symphony no. 1,” with the addition of ambient nature sounds in the audio track.
Craig’s “Indescribable” honors the victims from the towns of Joplin, Missouri and Moore, Oklahoma, who were devastated by EF5 tornadoes in 2011 and 2013, respectively. Organized in three musical episodes, Craig conjures feelings of calm, despair, and the resulting “indescribable” ability to pick up the pieces and rebuild after a tragedy. While the aims of this work are lofty, the piece is very approachable.
It should be noted that several of the keyboard percussion parts require the sparing use of four mallets; however, these consist mostly of block chords and are easily managed by the beginning four-mallet player. There is limited use of quintuplets and sextuplets; however, the performers are not exposed as these parts are well placed within a large musical texture and coincide with the use of rain and thunder in the audio track. While the mention of electronics may sound intimidating to some, this audio track is downloaded from the publisher’s website and only requires a P.A. to run — no specialty software needed.
It is rare that I come across pieces that explore meaningful themes while being sensitive to the needs of intermediate performers and their music programs. This is highlighted by the choice to orchestrate the piece for ten performers, making this piece ideal for music programs looking to engage their percussion sections in a meaningful way. At around ten minutes in length, “Indescribable” would steal the show on any advanced middle or high school concert, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Congratulations to Bryce Craig on this worthy contribution to the literature, and I look forward to hearing performances of this piece.
Quintin Mallette
Percussive Notes
Vol. 59, No. 2, April 2021 Quintin Mallette on Jun 16th 2022
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