The Silence Between... (solo multi-percussion)

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1. Percussive Notes New Literature Review

   This solo explores the sonic possibilities of a minimalistic setup. From the start, four fortissimo notes are heard on the low tom, establishing the theme of the piece. An immediate contrast is heard between the fortissimo strokes on the tom and pianissimo finger taps on the almglocken and gong. This theme is repeated three more times, using both a higher pitched tom and almglocken each time. The player then transitions from the finger strokes to mallets, phrasing the four-note phrase amongst the almglocken using mallets. The fournote phrase is spread out among time signatures such as 7/8, 11/8, and 13/16, with tom hits filling in the space between the almglocken tones. The almglocken rhythms temporarily abandon the four-note phrase for a more rhythmically complex pattern in 17/16. This figure reoccurs a few other times within the piece.
   
   Sonic variations used within the piece include deadened strokes, finger taps, buzzes, rolls (on almglocken and toms), and rims played with the shaft of the mallet. The performer must be comfortable with reading multiple time signature changes and multiple staves. The notation uses two staves: the top staff for the almglocken and the bottom for the toms and opera gong. The piece has a call-and-response feel that almost seems to overlap, with the almglocken and tom rhythms intertwining. The result is a captivating solo that sounds like a duet. This challenging piece should prove to be rewarding to both the performer and audience.
   
   Jeff W. Johnson
   PERCUSSIVE NOTES
   VO. 59, NO. 2, APRIL 2021 Jeff Johnson on Jun 29th 2022