Rig (Percussion Quintet)

Rig was written with the young percussionist in mind. It focuses on developing layering and ensemble techniques while still challenging the player to grow more advantaged percussive techniques. It is inspired by the large number of oil field rigs I drove by every day to work at the University of Texas Permian Basin and looks to capture the sights and sounds of West Texas.

Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 5
Level: Intermediate | Duration: 3:05

Instrumentation
Score (8.5"x11" stapled booklet)
Percussion 1: Zil-Bel (or similar), Brake Drum, 2 Concert Toms, Sleigh Bells, Splash Cymbal
Percussion 2: Agogo Bells, Snare Drum, Concert Tom, Woodblock, China Cymbal, Opera Gong*
Percussion 3: 2 Cowbells, Ratchet, 3 Concert Toms, Crash Cymbal
Percussion 4: Impact Drum, 2 Concert Toms, 2 Triangles, Rainstick
Percussion 5: Snare Drum, Brake Drum, Opera Gong, Concert Tom, Crash Cymbal

*If your ensemble has only one Opera Gong, Percussion 2 can substitute their opera gong with a similar resonant metal or a brake drum (with a contrasting tone to Percussion 5’s brake drum).

Program Notes
Rig is a percussive study in rhythm, texture, and momentum, inspired by the mechanical intensity and raw energy of oil rigs in West Texas. Rather than depicting the scene literally, the piece channels the environment’s constant motion, clanging metal, and industrial pulse through tightly woven grooves and aggressive rhythmic interplay.

Driving patterns, shifting textures, and a wide range of timbres—wood, metal, and skin—combine to create a soundscape that feels both precise and volatile. Sudden dynamic changes and layered rhythms mimic the unpredictable yet relentless pace of heavy machinery, challenging performers to operate as a unified, high-powered system. Rig is not a narrative, but a visceral impression of work, weight, and sound in motion.