Percussion Ensemble

Nalu is a marimba quartet written for four players on two marimbas. In the Hawaiian language, the word “nalu” stands for wave, in reference to those in the waters surrounding the islands of Hawaii. Through the...

Using haunting bugle calls and quotes from the "Star-Spangled Banner" and "America, the Beautiful," Gillingham has crafted a poignant tribute to those who lost their lives on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day.Genre:...

One Minute to Midnight is based on the term “minutes to midnight” associated with the doomsday clock that represented probability of the threat of a global catastrophe during the late 1940’s. It is a fun,...

An attention grabber from the very beginning. Very catchy melody with the appropriate amount of supporting batterie. Excellent listening, good musical material for the conductor searching for a little lighter sound that...

Free and improvisational opening which presents the thematic material for the rest of the piece. Drumming starts the ensuing Allegro, followed by the melody on xylophone, bells, and marimba. Great for an advanced high school...

David Gillingham’s first work for percussion ensemble, Paschal Dances is based on the first two lines of the famous Gregorian Easter sequence, “Victim paschali laudes” (Praises to the Paschal Victim)...

Originally composed for string orchestra, Nathan Daughtrey has scored Gillingham's powerful work for percussion ensemble. Inspired by the hymn 'O For A Thousands Tongues to Sing', Point of Reckoning begins quite frantically...

Post-Sunrise is a flowing, post-rock style quintet scored for Glockenspiel/Suspended Cymbal, Vibraphone, two Marimbas, and Djembe/Ankle Bells. The work was composed during the summer of 2014 during a one-month, bed-ridden,...

Power Struggle features a balanced ensemble of 4 keyboard percussion and 4 battery percussion. The struggle is apparent from the opening bars of the piece, with the 2 halves of the ensemble competing for attention in an...

Part of the Ignite Series, Prism Schism is an extremely flexible piece that helps students explore the sonic possibilities of the modern percussion ensemble by encouraging them to choose instruments that work well together...

Inspired by a trip to Honolulu Hawaii, Pyroclastic Steam depicts the violent process of the island's formation from molten lava to rock. The ensemble represents the different physical states of matter, moving from liquid to...

Quadrinomial is written for four players with four drums, four mallets, and four wire brushes. A variety of mallet techniques are applied to create an arrangement of timbres shared between each performer.Genre: Percussion...

Quintessential Quintets is a collection of three "drummy" pieces for 5 young percussionists. Using limited and/or flexible instrumentation, these works will help student grow as musicians while simultaneously impressing...

Radioactive Octopus was inspired by the earthquake and subsequent nuclear disaster that occurred in Japan in March of 2011. Each player represents two of the tentacles of the octopus, and a visual movement of the octopus is...

Red Koi was written using the “Minyō” scale found in Japanese music, such as Gagaku and Shomyo. The snare drum/tom part was written to emulate basic Taiko-style drumming. Red Koi represents a great opportunity to...

The definition of reverie is “a state of being pleasantly lost in one’s thoughts; a daydream.” The quiet, reflective passages of this beautifully simple work wander about very much as if in a dream. Reverie...