Percussion Ensemble

The title All That is Left is a play on the "Litany Against Fear" from Frank Herbert’s novel, Dune. “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. I will face...

Atmos is a balanced keyboard percussion quartet for 2 vibraphone and 2 marimbas. Defined as a gaseous envelope surrounding a celestial body, Clayson envisioned images of constellations and galaxies as he was composing the...

Inspired by a funny online comment from a student insisting his instructor had a 10-octave marimba, Attack of the 10-Octave Marimba plays out like a 1950s "B" horror movie, with the vision of a gigantic marimba arising out...

Be That of the Wind is a piece for woodwind quintet and 8 percussionists that draws inspiration from the four tenets outlines in Sun Tzu’s The Art of War: Let your rapidity be that of the wind, your gentleness that of...

No matter what stands in your way, to overcome you must be willing to bend, but never break. Bend is a marimba quartet that explores a variety of styles and syncopations while never requiring the use of 4-mallets.Genre:...

Blossoms is a powerful work for percussion orchestra that was inspired by the natural process of growth and transformation, yet it does not attempt to depict a specific narrative. Instead, the piece reflects a universal...

The Cat’s Pajamas was a slang phrase popularized by “flappers” of the Roaring 1920’s. This phrase was used to describe something that young people thought was “great” or “fun.”...

Combination Lock is a marimba quartet with multi-drum accompaniment that is very rhythmic and minimalist in nature. It features ostinatos throughout and moments of heavy back beats. Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players:...

D.N.R., or “Do Not Resuscitate” is a legally recognized order signed by a physician at a patient’s request. A D.N.R. means the patient does not want to be resuscitated if they suddenly go into cardiac...

The title Demon Poetry is pulled from an account of the way fire moves: "Fire has got a certain genius... a certain demon poetry." This piece is a product of the realization that one can write whatever they want – and...

A descant is a melody played above another basic melody. Descant begins as a quiet, mysterious march. The sounds of a far away street beat are heard as a descant to the basic musical events occurring. The music grows in...

German for “double tone” or “two tones,” Doppeltone utilizes three primary performers utilizing two non-pitched instruments that produce different tones. The piece can be performed as a trio...

Inspired by the Dutch folktale “Wichardsage” (from The Sagas of Veluwe), DrakenVuur tells the story of a deadly fire-breathing dragon that lived under a medlar tree devouring every living creature it encountered...

In Greek mythology, Elysium was the final resting place for the souls of the heroic and the pure. It has come to mean any place or state of bliss or delight. Paradise. Originally written for percussion trio in the collection...

First Five is a piece for flexible percussion ensemble that only uses the first five notes of the B-flat major scale. It has no specific instrument requirements other than one metallic mallet instrument (such as a...

Get a Clew! is a delightful showpiece for solo xylophone and marimba trio that was inspired by a sailing trip through the English Channel (a "clew" is the bottom/aft corner of the mainsail, nearest the person steering in...