PERCUSSION ENSEMBLES, MIXED MALLET and MARIMBA ENSEMBLES - Five or Six Players

1st place winner - PAS Italy Composition Contest - 2006. This ensemble piece offers a very rewarding challenge to advanced performers. Scored for six multi-percussionists, this is an intricate work requiring great attention to nuance and detail.

Instrumentation:
Marimba, Bells, Vibraphone, Xylophone and a large array of small instruments - including bongos, tom toms, triangles and a variety of cymbals among others. college/professional.

Challenging
contemporary Argentinean work scored for marimba soloist with
percussion quartet accompaniment -
in three short movements.

Quartet instrumentation: xylophone, bells, vibraphone, snare and bass drum.

Version for marimba duo with quartet accompaniment also available. college/professional. 

Boogaloo: Rough and Tumble was constructed using the late 1950's - early 60's "boogaloo" popular music style as the main impetus for the piece.
New Orleans funk and
soul rhythms are combined
to create a driving,
syncopated framework that supports the "quirky" melodic
lines that permeate the work.

Quartet version -
3rd prize winner
in the Percussive Arts Society Composition Contest: 2004.

Available in two versions:
for 4 players ($25.95)
or 6-7 players ($28.95).

Instrumentation:
vibraphone, xylophone and glock., two marimbas (one 5- octave) and an array of small percussion (cymbals, cow bells, toms, etc.).

Version for 6-7 Players

Scored for six multi-percussionists, this unique work received the 2nd place prize in the 1999 PAS Composition Contest ("medium size percussion ensemble"). The work’s duration is approximately 8 minutes and it utilizes some traditional Japanese instruments as well as Western percussion instruments. The thematic material is constructed from a pentatonic scale and its transpositions and the rhythms are inspired by traditional Japanese music for the theatre, as the titles implies. This title would present a worthwhile challenge for an advanced high school or college level ensemble.

Concerto for Darabukka and Percussion Quartet, explores three traditional Middle Eastern Iqa’at (rhythmic cycles): Masmudi Kabir (8/4 time signature), Jourjunah (10/8), and Karachi (2/4), as well as one original cycle set in 12/8. Structured in a modified rondo form and requiring extensive improvisation by the soloist, the work combines traditional Middle Eastern percussion instruments with instruments from Eastern Asia, South America, and the Caribbean.

In addition to Middle Eastern musical inspiration, the work draws on monadic chant and Japanese festival drumming, as well as the lovely and exciting music of Japanese composers, Akira Nishimura and Kaoru Wada. The Concerto’s opening measures are directly related to the closing section of Wada’s composition, Rakuichi-Nanaza for Shinobue; Japanese percussion; and Western Percussion. college/professional. Duration ca. 13'40" [Recorded on Hand to Hand - HRCD010]

Version for marimba soloist, with accompaniment by two pianos and three percussionists. Challenging, yet accessible feature for marimba (5-octave). Three movements, ca. 17’ - vibrant rhythms and lively interaction between the soloist and the piano and percussion parts make this a very audience friendly work!

[Chamber Orchestra
Version also available]

Marimba Solo: $12.95

Marimba Solo, Score and Parts: $45.00

Scored for 4-5 players, this ensemble is a "rudimental fantasy" - which utilizes themes from three traditional snare drum compositions; Three Camps, The Downfall of Paris and Connecticut Halftime, with a nod to Steve Gadd’s performance of Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover! Instrumentation: three snare drums, bass drum and optional toms (2). Big fun! high school/college. [Recorded on Tympanum Ubïquitäs - HRCD005]

This piece, which is scored for five players, is a 4 1/2 minute exploration into the subtleties of the sounds of both metal (triangle, finger cymbals) and wood (hi/low claves, castanets). Grounded by a rhythmic theme that is heard both in the beginning and again toward the end of the work, each of the parts is equally important. Although written and conducted in four, there is a mesmerizing interplay of many different time "feels" and rhythms throughout the piece. A very "musical" piece scored for a minimum of instruments. while it requires a great deal of subtly on the part of each performer, this will be accessible to both younger players as well those with more advanced performance experience.
high school/college.

Third place winner
in the 2003
PAS composition contest
(percussion ensemble category)!

This piece offers a challenging work-out for 6 multi-percussionists - ca. 8-9'. college/professional. (INSTRUMENTATION)

This challenging ensemble is the first movement of
Robert S. Cohen's
Homeland Security Suite for Percussion. 

SEE MORE DESCRIPTION
and SOUND SAMPLE

[Six Players - Duration ca. 8' 33" ]  Bongos (2), Castanets, Claves, Congas (2), Cowbell Guiro, Maracas, Ratchet, Sand Blocks, Steel Drum, Tambourine, Temple Blocks, Triangle, Vibraslap, Woodblocks (2).

This title is a hand drumming ensemble piece written for 6 or more players. It is written with an African flavor using congas, djembes, shakers, bells and more. This piece is a great way to introduce some younger or novice hand drummers to hand drumming, while keeping a high standard of integrity in sound quality and style.

An audience favorite since it makes such a nice contrast to other percussion ensemble music, Hand Jam is very playable for high school and college level ensembles. A driving 4/4 groove is broken up with a 6/8 mid-section before returning to a high energy ending in 4/4. Hand Jam would work very well either as a piece for dance accompaniment or as an ensemble piece performed by itself.

Scored for six players, this ensemble was inspired by traditional Japanese taiko drumming and is based on typical rhythmic patterns found in the folk music’s of Japan. Adapted for six bass drums (one player also doubles on conga and Chinese cymbal), this up-tempo work could serve as an exciting closing or opening number on a percussion ensemble concert - or it could stand alone as a unique showcase for a band’s percussion section! adv. high school/college.

Inspired by Nexus' first concert tour of Japan. Scored for solo percussionist (xylophone/marimba, sleigh-bells, crotales, rattle, F# chime, 15-20 sus. bells) and four players on two marimbas, with optional piano accompaniment.
adv. high school/college.

[Recorded on The Solo Percussionist/The Music of William L. Cahn - CD 10339/NEXUS]

Famous as one of the
first percussion ensemble works
to be found in Western Art Music, this arrangement is scored for five percussionists. Instrumentation: castanets, tam tam, snare drum, tambourines, sus. cymbal, triangles, bass drum and tenor drum. high school/college. "Credit Cahn and HoneyRock for a neat easy-to-read rendition. Although it can be comfortably performed with as many as ten players. Cahn, with an eye toward practicality, has scored his arrangement
so it can be handled by
as few as five percussionists..." (Percussive Notes)

Up-tempo, rhythmic romp for six players - features interlocking rhythmic patterns, meter changes, dynamic
contrasts - and a few instances of 5:4 that will provide a challenge. Instrumentation:
bongos (pair),
snare drum (2), triangle,
cow bells (2),
suspended cymbal and
bass drum.
high school/college

Instrumentation:
timpani, bongos, wood blocks, snare drum, bass drum, and crash cymbal.

Accessible to players of advanced high school/college level, great for honing an ensemble’s interactive listening skills.

Scored for a minimum of five marimbists, with piano and string bass, this work is full of nuances and subtle ensemble challenges. If players and instruments are available, it can be expanded for up to nine or more marimbists. adv. high school/college.
SEE ALSO:
WESTERN SKETCHES
for Marimba Trio,
and
LOOSE CANNONS,
A Collection for Solo Marimba.

Three movements: Introduction, Largo
and Canon. Six players, each with a small multi-percussion set-up. Accessible, yet challenging for younger as well as more experienced ensembles. Instrumentation: piano, triangles (2), wood blocks (2), gong, bongos, castanets, ton toms (4), bass drum, sus. cymbals (2), timpani (4) and antique cymbals (2). high school/college.

Challenging and unique vibraphone solo with Percussion Ensemble - 6 Players. Solo and accompaniment patterns are active both melodically and rhythmically - Latin/fusion-like rhythms predominate in the accompaniment. Some sections can be read as written or improvised - solo part requires four mallets and bow. adv. high school/college.

SEE ALSO: Version for Vibraphone solo with Soundscape.

A unique pairing of instruments gives this piece accessible melodic materials in combination with interesting rhythmic configurations. None of the individual parts are particularly difficult, so even less experienced ensembles will have fun with this one and will sound great as well!. Scored for six players: Oboe (or Clarinet), Multi-percussion (1 player) and Mallet Quartet (Bells, Vibraphone & two Marimbas). high school/college.

Intended as an introduction to 5/4, many younger ensembles will find this piece an interesting challenge. Scored for claves, tambourine, guiro, bongos and frame drum - the parts for claves, tambourine and guiro are suitable for inexperienced players, while the parts for bongos and frame drum are a bit more difficult. The frame drum part calls for the player to squeeze the drum head to produce pitch bends. All the rhythms however are very straightforward, yet the piece moves at a brisk tempo. jr. high/college. 

A quintet in three movements, Sinfonia No. 8 offers the intermediate to advanced percussion ensemble a musical approach to mallet percussion instruments interacting with timpani and roto toms. 
adv. high school/college.

Scored for five multi-percussionists, this work in three movements, offers a challenging work-out for all players! Requires one 4 1/2-octave marimba and one 5-octave marimba, as well as xylophone, glockenspiel, vibraphone and an array of cymbals, drums and small percussion instruments. college/professional.
SEE INSTRUMENTATION LIST

"The first movement is called Fugue Islands. I was fascinated by the contrapuntal writing in the form of fugue and decided to take themes from Bach – the ostinati in the prelude of the G major Cello Suite and the Aria from the Goldberg Variations in a different tempo, and play simultaneously to contrast the tranquil and majestic feelings that these themes represent respectively – a kaleidoscope so to speak.

Gavotte and Salsa are both folk dances in a fast tempo. The former came from seventeenth-century France, the other from modern day Cuba. To have both in the same movement is truly a buy-one-get-one-free deal.

Badinerie from Bach’s Orchestral Suite No.1 is widely known, and it originally means “to jest.” When it combines with the chant of Dies Irae, it marks the creation of the Skeleton Dance, and it also brings the piece to an end." (Alan Chan)

$40.00

Rhythmically and melodically complex - challenging work for five or more players which requires a large and diverse grouping of instruments.
adv. high school/college

Price: $32.00

Challenging, rhythmically vibrant work scored for five percussionists and a conductor who performs intermittently with the ensemble, as well. Lots of space to feature a drum set soloist. Instrumentation: vibraphone, timpani (4), drum set, chimes, orchestra bells, marimba and a variety of small percussion instruments. adv. high school/college.

Price: $22.95

Scored for six percussionists, this is an accessible piece for the less experienced ensemble, yet more advanced players will have fun with it as well! Instrumentation: triangles (5), finger cymbals, snare drum, tambourines (2), bongos, bass drum, floor tom, wood blocks (3), concert toms (4), cymbals (sizzle & ride) and gankoqui
(or two cowbells).
Jr. high - college.

Price: $22.00

"World Beat," in the title of this ensemble, scored for six players, refers to an eclectic form of contemporary music in which many diverse ethnic styles of music are combined. "Sonata," refers to a three-part design (ABA) in which the B section is a free development of the A section. This is an up-tempo work that pairs an African slit drum, talking drum and rattles with Western instruments such as triangle, woodblocks, cymbal, timpano and flexitone and makes use as well of "found" urban instruments such as tin can, saw blade, metal crasher and metal mixing bowls. This is a unique work that builds on numerous ostinato patterns, fun to play and easy listening for audiences.
adv. high school/college.

Price: $17.95

Nice waltz, scored for solo xylophone and four players on two marimbas.
high school/college.

". . .gem. . .it offers possibilities for expression and phrasing that will entertain any discerning college mallet player." (Percussive Notes)

Price: $22.95

Contemporary rag - unlike many rags wherein the xylophone is truly the "solo" voice, in Cactus Hip Rag, three voices share prominent melodic materials - xylophone, vibraphone and marimba I. While the xylophone part contains the “flashiest” melodic and rhythmic figures, all the parts have interesting musical features. Up-tempo, audience-friendly piece that could be programmed to open or close a recital or concert in a lively manner!

Price: $28.00

Inspired by Nexus' first concert tour of Japan. Scored for solo percussionist (xylophone/marimba, sleigh-bells, crotales, rattle, F# chime, 15-20 sus. bells) and four players on two marimbas, with optional piano accompaniment.
adv. high school/college.

[Recorded on
The Solo Percussionist/The Music of William L. Cahn -
CD 10339/NEXUS]

Price: $25.00

An arrangement of an old standard, this work is scored for xylophone soloist with marimba quintet accompaniment - requires one 5-octave instrument. Always a crowd pleaser, this tune offers a showcase for the accomplished xylophonist! adv. high school/college.

Price: $22.95

Contemporary rag - unlike many rags wherein the xylophone is truly the "solo" voice, in Old Pueblo Rag, three voices share prominent melodic materials - xylophone, vibraphone and marimba I. While the xylophone part contains the “flashiest” melodic and rhythmic figures, all the parts have interesting musical features. Up-tempo, audience-friendly piece that could be programmed to open or close a recital or concert in a lively manner!

Price: $25.00

March tempo xylophone feature, with lyrical melodies as performed by G.H. Green. Unique among other rags of the era, this piece is a medley of tunes particularly associated with the Southern U.S., scored for xylophone solo with accompaniment by four players on two marimbas. high school/college.

". . . an excellent arrangement . . . would be a success on any marimba ensemble concert or as an encore to a light type of percussion recital." (Percussive Notes)

Price: $22.95

Sinfonia, for four marimbas and timpani, is derived from Johann Sebastian Bach's Cantata 29 "Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir" (BWV 29) - written in 1731. This adaptation provides a setting for a percussion ensemble to perform the Preludio from Bach’s Violin Partita #3 (BWV 1006, 1720), which is often performed as a marimba solo. In this arrangement, the accompaniment has been transposed to E major, the key of the original Preludio, that is such a favorite with marimba artists and students. In this work's contrapuntal brilliance, each mallet part offers its own beauty, challenges and learning opportunities. Appropriate for the concert hall or
the sanctuary. advanced high school/college.

Price: $25.00

Two-Step March
(foxtrot/rag style) dating from the turn of the century, scored for five mallet players and drum set: xylophone, orchestra bells, vibraphone and two players on one marimba (low A), drum set - w/cowbell, pop gun, wood block and splash cymbal. All parts - two mallets. high school/college.

". . . ragtime-style mallet ensemble work that would be an excellent teaching piece for students with intermediate keyboard percussion skills . . . a nice addition to the ragtime literature for mallet ensemble."
(Percussive Notes)