The Last Game (Perc Ens 3)

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1. Percussive Notes New Literature Review

   “The Last Game,” by Japanese percussionist/composer Daiki Kato, reminds me a great deal of Mark Ford’s hugely popular trio work “Stubernic.” Kato’s trio doesn’t share the most notable trait of “Stubernic” — namely that the three performers in Ford’s piece share a single instrument — but there are striking similarities in the accessible harmonic language, groovy rhythmic vocabulary, flowing use of frequent mixed meter, and emphasis on audience engagement. One could easily imagine a version of “The Last Game” for a large percussion orchestra, but the real charm of the piece lies in seeing the three performers deftly shift between melodic ideas on the keyboard instruments and driving rhythmic material on the drums and cymbals.
   
   This is an instance where a composer’s personal background in percussion performance benefits, rather than limits, the composition, as the delicate balance between drums and keyboards (and the necessary choreography involved in their performance) has been fine-tuned with clockwork precision. No motion or energy is wasted, and there’s a breathlessness to both the aural and visual aspects of the work. There are a few instances of four-mallet demand in the vibraphone and marimba parts, but not enough to prohibit advanced high school students from taking on the challenge. Indeed, the greater obstacle in preparing this piece will be maintaining the disciplined balance required for an effective performance. With so many drums within arms’ reach, it will be all too easy for immature players to drown out the keyboards unless consistently guided away from that danger. If the students need inspiration, I would strongly recommend that they watch the video on the publisher’s website, featuring the Kasumiza Percussion Ensemble (for whom the piece was written) in an appreciably nuanced and wellbalanced performance. I would highly recommend this 6½-minute work to any advanced high school percussion trio, or perhaps a college percussion ensemble looking for an audience-friendly trio that is showy without being overly so, and engaging without being gimmicky. With many different sonic textures and technical passages to explore, “The Last Game” is a great vehicle for students’ exploration of chamber skills and balance.
   
   Brian Graiser
   PERCUSSIVE NOTES
   VOL. 59, NO. 3, JUNE 2021 Brian Graiser on Jun 29th 2022