Percussion Concerto

percussion soloist and orchestsra
(2003)

This single-movement concerto is published by MostlyMarimba. You can purchase a piano reduction with soloist’s part, or rent the full score and parts from them.

A two-part video recording of this concerto is available on YouTube.
Video part 1
Video part 2 (cadenza)

The potential for dialogue between drums, vibraphone and orchestra is what first inspired this concerto. Therefore the soloist must often alternate quickly between vibraphone and drums while engaging the orchestra in musical conversations. Keeping with this conception, all of the important musical ideas are played by vibraphone and drums, while the percussionist's other instruments are primarily used to enhance color and dramatic effects. In terms of character, this piece makes much use of the energy and drive that people often associate with percussion instruments. Although the movement begins slowly and mysteriously, with a vibraphone solo, the tempo eventually increases until drums shatter that mood. From that point on, syncopation, fast drum fills, bright colors and sharp contrasts characterize much of the music.

(duration ca. 9:00 without a cadenza)

Instrumentation:
1 flute
1 piccolo
2 oboes
2 clarinets in Bb
(2nd doubles Bb bass)
2 bassoons

4 horns in F
2 trumpets in C
2 trombones

timpani (five drums)

percussion 1:
glockenspiel
tam-tam
large sus. cymbal
crash cymbals

percussion 2:
bass drum
tam-tam

percussion soloist:
vibraphone
3 small roto-toms
5 tom-toms
2 steel pipes
1 large sus. cymbal
1 kick drum

strings