Whiplash - Aaron Ward [DIGITAL SCORE]

Whiplash is an exciting work for percussion quartet that showcases an ensemble’s aggression and finesse. The intensity of the piece is sure to thrill audiences and performers alike.

Genre: Percussion Ensemble | # of Players: 4
Level: Medium | Duration: 4:15

Instrumentation
Percussion 1: Kick Drum, 2 Congas, Bongos, Mounted Tambourine
Percussion 2: Kick Drum, Timbales, Bongos, Vibraphone
Percussion 3: Kick Drum, Bongos, Ride Cymbal, Glockenspiel
Percussion 4: Kick Drum, Bongos, Brake Drum, Ride/Suspended Cymbal [may share Perc. 3's cymbal], Opera Gong, Marimba (5-octave)

Program Notes
Whiplash is a work for percussion quartet composed in the spring of 2019. The piece was originally written to have 7 parts, including keyboard parts throughout. Eventually the instrumentation was condensed down to a quartet and more drums and auxiliary percussion instruments were added to cover melodic themes originally written for keyboard instruments. The result is a unique work in which the performer must project complex melodic themes using a wide variety of different instruments throughout the piece. Whiplash relies heavily upon the combination of contrasting 3 and 4 note patterns to create a unique sense of time for the listener. The title Whiplash was inspired by the feeling of intense uncertainty which can be felt when driving at high speeds in heavy traffic.