Mas Fuerte (Perc Ens 6)

The piece is a study in non-pitched loudness, and reflects a strong Afro-Caribbean influence, specifically influences of Congolese dance music and the Costa Rican version of the Calypso. The transitions are very reflective of transitions found in Congolese drumming, that of dynamic culmination followed by metric changes.

Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 6
Level: Medium | Duration: 3:00

Instrumentation
Percussion 1 (2 timbales, bass drum, claves, snare drum)
Percussion 2 (large ride cymbal, large cowbell, 5 tom-toms, bass drum)
Percussion 3 (snare drum, hi-hat, bongos, small suspended cymbal, woodblock)
Percussion 4 (snare drum, bongos)
Percussion 5 (2 timbales, French cymbals, 5 woodblocks, bass drum, small suspended cymbal)
Percussion 6 (5 tom-toms, hi-hat, maracas, bass drum)

Program Notes
Mas Fuerte, loosely translated, means "more loudness" or "more force." The title is the Spanish version of a rather clumsy working title, "Louder and…(louder and…)." The piece is a study in non-pitched loudness, and reflects a strong Afro-Caribbean influence, specifically influences of Congolese dance music and the Costa Rican version of the Calypso. The transitions are very reflective of transitions found in Congolese drumming, that of dynamic culmination followed by metric changes.