Voices of Himeji (Percussion Quartet)

Voices of Himeji is an exciting quartet of three movements portraying a beautiful castle in Japan, high on a hill, guarding the city silently for centuries. Divided into separate movements of Drums, Marimbas, and Metals, each feature distinctive groupings of instruments that reveal “spirits” that might still roam the castle grounds: Samurai, Buddhist Monks and Sword makers.

Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 4
Series: N/A
Level: Medium Advanced | Duration: 20:55 total

Instrumentation
Mvt. I: Musashi (Samurai Guarding Himeji Castle Walls)
Player 1: 2 Bongos (higher set), Conga (higher drum)
Player 2: High Guiro (mounted), 2 Bongos (lower set), Conga (lower drum)
Player 3: Low Guiro (mounted), 2 Impact Drums, Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine
Player 4: Washboard (mounted), 4 Concert Toms

Mvt. II: Buddhist Monks of Himeji
Player 1: 4-octave Marimba
Player 2: 4-octave Marimba
Player 3: 4-octave Marimba
Player 4: 5-octave marimba

Mvt. III: Katana: Makers of Swords
Player 1: 5 Aluminum Pipes (D, E-flat, G, A, B-flat), 4 Bongos
Player 2: 2 Congas, Noise Instruments (Opera Gong, Cowbell, Resonant Glass Bottle, Frying Pan, High Woodblock)
Player 3: 4 Brake Drums, Thunder Sheet, Impact Drum, Mbira
Player 4: Tam-Tam, Medium Gong, & High Gong (laid flat on table), 4 Concert Toms, 2 Triangles

Forney High School Percussion Ensemble, directed by Riley Warren