Percussion Ensemble

Ozymandias or The Earth Won’t Remember Me is a work for solo timpani & percussion quartet that explores the fleeting nature of human ambition and the inevitable decay of even the most monumental creations. Inspired...

This dynamic percussion quintet retells the story of Pandora's Box, incorporating unique instruments, such as an Aztec death whistle, spoken text, and a mix of glass and metal to create a haunting, unsettling atmosphere...

Poltergeist by Robert Clayson is an easy to intermediate flexible percussion ensemble that portrays those situations where odd things just tend to happen with no explanation. This piece will be a great way to either open or...

Primordial Awakening is an exploration of the universe’s earliest moments, from the explosive birth of the cosmos to the quiet, gradual emergence of structure and order. Scored for a 15-member ensemble with the option...

There’s more of them! Quartets that Travel, Volume 2 is a collection of 18 short quartets for small auxiliary percussion, perfect for performances where large equipment is not ideal, transitions between set changes, or...

Re:Flections is a contemporary percussion ensemble work for eight players, built around a mirrored setup, unique instrumentation, and groove. Designed for advanced middle and high school ensembles, this high-energy piece...

Using a single 5-octave marimba, Rift brings a fresh new voice to the marimba quartet. Using close harmony and sudden dynamic changes to paint a picture of a falling out between two parties, the piece serves as a challenging...

Written for the Rift Percussion Community Showcase, Riven Asunder, meaning “torn apart,” was a play on words as a suggestive embodiment of the word RIFT. Other aspects of the double entendre include how many of...

Rusalka's Song to the Moon is an aria from Antonín Dvorák's opera "Rusalka," which combines elements from three fairy tales. It is a song of love, loss, and longing. This arrangement for keyboard percussion...

Scherzissimo combines contemporary percussion ideas with classical chamber music sensibilities to create an exciting challenge for a skilled percussion quintet. Each player must maintain a highly musical touch while...

This arrangement takes the third movement of Antonin Dvorak’s iconic “New World Symphony” and brings it to the world of percussion. Arranged for 9 percussionists, this arrangement allows for every player to...

Secret Sauce is a mallet quartet with one percussionist, featuring common funk rhythms and chords that are accessible to younger players. Beginning with the introduction of the bass line, the piece slowly grows into an...

Shimmer was written out of Clayson's desire to create a solo that could be performed with beginner-level percussion ensembles. Many pieces exist for advanced solo marimba with advanced accompaniment, but few are written...

This intermediate work for 7-8 percussionists tells the story of Theseus’s ship as it approaches harbor and repairs begin. As you strip away broken parts and replace them with new ones, the story of the ship's...

Snapped in Half (Like A Sunflower) is a work for 10 percussionists that represents the juxtaposition of something very beautiful but fragile coming to a sudden and violent end. “Snapped” can refer to a literal,...

Inspired by the lively street festivals along the malecón, this high-energy work for flexible percussion ensemble captures the vibrant spirit of the celebrations through striking percussion textures and engaging...