The Big Swell (Percussion Trio)

Inspired by the local music and nature sounds experienced on the island of O'ahu in Hawaii, The Big Swell is a powerful percussion trio with a single shared bass drum & 3 small multi-percussion setups. The piece features a single structure from beginning to end.

Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 3
Level: Medium Advanced | Duration: 5:00

Instrumentation
Score (8.5"x11" stapled booklet)

Player 1: Shared Bass Drum (Concert Bass Drum preferred), Bongos, 2 Resonant Metal Instruments
Player 2: Shared Bass Drum (Concert Bass Drum preferred), 2 Congas, Floor Tom, China Cymbal
Player 3: Shared Bass Drum (Concert Bass Drum preferred), Bongos, Snare Drum, Suspended Cymbal

Program Notes
The Big Swell is a title with multiple meanings. The first is literal: a single crescendo outlined in the larger structure of a piece of music. The second is more abstract, as the music attempts to depict local music and nature sounds I experienced on the island of O’ahu in Hawaii, where I lived for four years. The primary rhythmic motif of this piece was taken from my original exploration of Hawaiian musical themes in a marimba solo called Maunakea.

“Big swells” are a type of wave pointed out by surfing enthusiasts, many of whom call Hawaii’s islands their home. The decision to write about my time living on the island of O’ahu one more time came from that concept, with a renewed focus on the more celebrated cultural traditions and unique characteristics. Hawaii is a beautiful place that is frequently the target of some of the worst side effects of corporate greed, leading to incidents like the catastrophic fire on Maui in 2023. In light of these tragedies and harsh living conditions, I choose to remember Hawaii not as a prime tourist destination, but instead as a home to some of the nicest tour guides, fisherman, artists and musicians I will ever meet. I wish only the best for those people.

– L.G.