PERCUSSION COMPOSITION CONTEST WINNERS!

1st place winner - Keystone Percussion Composition Contest 2006. 

Snare drum solo, in three movements, which makes use of a variety of challenging performance techniques. 
adv. high school/college. 
[Recorded on Tympanum Ubïquitäs - HRCD005]

2nd place winner PAS ITALY Composition Contest 2015.

In this challenging solo, several different contrasts in timbre are achieved by using the normal playing area as well as the rim area, the addition of "rim shots" and "stick shots" for aural punctuation, and the pitch bends, via changing the pressures on the drum head (Glissando), all contributing to make this an very interesting piece for study and performance.

In addition, the use of a wide range of dynamic levels in conjunction with numerous metric changes, and varied tempi, help set-up distinct "sectional" contrasts as well. 

The inclusion of a Cadenza section, with it's various suggestions for dynamics, rhythms and the varied use of buzz strokes and glissando - could really be "opened up" by a creative performer.

Overall this is a challenging solo for the player - yet is varied and interesting enough to hold a listener's attention as well - with the aural contrasts (sections) easily discernible.  This would make a great recital work for intermediate to advanced level performers.(ca. 8' 46")

Sound Sample

Digital Download Versions

2nd place winner - 2003 PAS Composition Contest.
 Marimba and Electronics. Unique intermediate level marimba solo that incorporates contemporary marimba techniques.
[Four mallets - 4 1/3 octave marimba].
adv. high school/college.

Alexander Scriabin
Arr. for Solo Marimba
Pablo Blanco Cordero
Price: $17.95

Special Prize -
2023 PAS Italy
Composition Contest. Challenging, yet wonderfully adapted for Solo Marimba
[4-mallets]. This piece would make an impressive addition
to any recital or concert program!

Video Sample

Digital Download Version

Frederick Chopin
Arr. for Solo Marimba
Pablo Blanco Cordero
Price: $17.95

Special Prize -
2021 PAS Italy
Composition Contest. Challenging, yet wonderfully adapted for Solo Marimba [4-mallets], this piece would make a welcome, audience friendly addition to any concert program!

1st place winner -
2004 PAS Composition Contest.
This piece opens with several different musical ideas presented in quick succession, which are then explored, combined and transformed.
In fact, these ideas take a tangled journey through juxtapositions of cism and diatonicism, density and sparseness, thick harmonies and quick melodies, and widely varying moods - requiring great virtuosity and creative interpretation from the performer! Duration: ca. 8-9'. college/professional.

Price: $15.95

2nd place winner -
2011 PAS Italy Composition Contest. Accessible four-mallet solo, appealing to performers and audiences alike.

3rd place winner - 
2004 PAS
Composition Contest.
Starting with a
slow and relaxed
introduction that makes
use of bowed notes as well as a melody played with mallets, the piece quickly moves into a very rhythmic groove. For the intermediate/advanced performer this will be an accessible piece that would be very audience friendly!
Duration: ca. 7'15".
adv. high school/college.

2nd place Winner - 2011 PAS Composition Contest.
Accessible five-movement suite for solo vibraphone.
adv. high school/college.

SEE ALSO:
MARIMBA-SYNTHESIS.

1st place winner - 2003 PAS Composition Contest. Challenging three movement marimba solo (four mallets) - can be played on a 4 1/3 or 5 octave instrument. In the second and third movements, the player sometimes has to strike the frame of the marimba simultaneously while playing on the bars with the left hand - imitating the "clacking" of a dancer's shoes on a floor. A very expressive piece for the accomplished performer! college/professional.

The focus of this challenging piece is to explore the many different expressive nuances of timpani – focusing particularly on frequent pitch changes and the different types of sounds available from these magnificent instruments.  Rhythms employed in the work are based on the structure of Zortzico, a popular round dance in quintuple meter from the Basque region of northern Spain. Hence the “Z” in the title.  MALLETS: Medium, Soft, Hard, Wood, Superball Mallet (1) & Suspended Cymbal (1) (preferably medium crash).  college/professional.

 IMPROMPTU ZETA was awarded the Third Prize in Cat. A, in the VIII International Composition Contest for Percussion 2010, organized by the Italy Percussive Arts Society.

Challenging solo for five timpani - 1st place winner in the PAS Composition Contest 2006!

Price: $17.95

3rd place winner in the
PAS Composition Contest 2010!
A tour-de-force for a
solo timpanist.

Price: $18.00

2nd place winner
in the PAS Composition Contest 2005!
Scored for a set-up that includes drums as well as a number of small percussion instruments - one player.

A challenging solo, with the use of many contemporary percussion techniques - a good choice for the advanced level recital.

 college/professional.

2nd place winner in the PAS Composition Contest 2001! Revised in 2014, this work provides a challenging work-out for both players.  Marimba part requires 4 mallets and a 5-octave instrument.

SEE ALSO VERSIONS:

Jitterbug/Ballad for Clarinet and Marimba

and

Jitterbug/Ballad for Violin
and Marimba

2nd place winner - PAS Composition Contest - 2008! Scored for soprano and vibraphone, this work in four movements: Winter Garden, Awake at Night, Stillness and Moonlight Slanting, is based on Haiku texts. A challenging work for both performers. college/professional.

1st place winner - PAS Composition Contest - 2008!
Scored for soprano and vibraphone, this work in two movements: Mother's Lament and Daughter's Lullaby, is based on text by Nicky Schildkraut. A challenging work for vibist. college/professional.

A unique multi-percussion duet centered on two snare drums that are mounted snare side "up" - various sonic effects are created by playing on the snare strands themselves as well as on the batter head (upside down). To this amalgam is added two bass drums (pedal), two bass drums (concert) and bongos.
The rhythms are often intricate and interlocking between the two players. This is a challenging duet suitable for accomplished percussionists.

3rd place winner -
PAS Italy Composition Contest - 2008!
Lively duet in a jazz/rock style, great interaction between parts - 4 1/3-octave marimba (ca. 9'). college/professional

Price: $22.95

3rd place winner -
PAS Composition Contest - 2006!
A unique duet - scored for tenor pan and marimba,
in four movements:
1.) Little Yellow Flowers,
2.) A Good Day,
3.) Silhouette and
4.) Dream Fields. 
Scored for 5-ocatave marimba, four mallets. 
adv. high school/college.

1st place winner of the
1st Annual Quey Percussion Duo Composition Contest (2005) - this is a unique
duet scored for
Drum Set and Marimba.
Intricate interaction
between the parts makes
this a challenging workout! Requires a
5-octave marimba.

2nd place winner
Quey Percussion Duo Composition Contest - 2012.
Complex rhythmic textures and interlocking melodic lines make this a challenging work for accomplished performers!
Scored for a 5-octave marimba. college/professional.

Honorable Mention -
Quey Percussion Duo Composiition Contest - 2005. At times subtle,
at times highly rhythmic, this is a unique and challenging duo
in two movements: Prelude, for Frame Drum ((Bodhran, played lap-style) and Gong; and Episode, for
Frame Drum and Darabuka. This piece calls for a variety of performance techniques and some prior familiarity with basic hand drum performance practice
would be an asset, when approaching this piece - although all strokes/techniques are explained in the accompanying descriptive notes. A unique addition to any advanced level recital! college. [Recorded on Hand to Hand - HRCD010]

1st place winner in the Quey Percussion Duo Composition Contest 2006.  A challenging work for vibraphone and marimba - both players must utilize subtle techniques and give much attention to the details of the rhythmic, melodic and harmonic interactions between the parts.  college/professional.

2nd place winner in the Quey Percussion Duo Composition Contest - 2005. Challenging work for two marimbas, appropriate for the college level or professional duo - requires four mallets and one 5-octave and one 4.6-octave marimba. “The idea of writing music to accompany travel is appealing to me as it’s an unusual coupling of meditation and movement. Travelogue is an exploration of this idea, which may best be described as a road trip illustrated through sound.” (Alphonse Izzo)

2nd place winner - Quey Percussion Duo Composition Contest - 2006. Twelve is a progressively fast-paced study in development and crescendo.  Scored for twelve drums, two tam-tams, and two bells, Twelve begins with a very simple rhythmic idea that is elaborated, developed and layered through a variety of textures and tempos while maintaining a gradual accelerando and crescendo throughout.  As the piece reaches the moment of highest intensity, the key rhythmic elements begin to unfold in reverse as the tempo becomes even quicker!  Duration: ca. 12' 46"  college/professional.

Price: $35.00

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.

Price: $25.95

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 ($25.00)
or 6-7 players ($28.00).

Instrumentation:
vibraphone, xylophone and glock., marimbas (2 - one 5 octave) and an array of small percussion (cymbals, cow bells, toms, etc.).

Price: $25.95

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.

3rd place winner in the 2011 PAS Italy Composition Contest.
A unique percussion quartet that makes use of a wide variety of cymbals - Western, as well as Chinese and Tibetan, with an assortment of crotales played with a bow. Performance will require a great deal of nuance and finesse!
See score samples for a complete list of instruments.
adv. high school/college.

3rd 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)

2nd place winner
in the
1993 PAS Composition Contest!
Eight players - contemporary, yet lyrical with rapid passage work.
Instrumentation:
marimbas
(4 - one with low A), vibraphones (2 - one player also doubles on bells) and xylophone.
adv. high school/college.

Score and Video Samples

1st Place Winner
PAS ITALY Composition Contest - 2012

Challenging percussion quartet full of Intricate rhythmic figures and subtle dynamic nuances.
Scored for four multi-percussion set-ups. Instrumentation includes: marimba, vibraphone, timpani (29") and an array of drums and small percussion - including cymbals, sleigh bells, wood blocks, cabasa and rainstick. college.

Price: $59.95

3rd place winner in the 2000 PAS Composition Contest, Marimba Quartet is a virtuosic, 17 minute piece written in the four-movement structure of a classical string quartet. The first movement is highly neo-classical, in sonata-allegro form. The second utilizes a cyclic, self-transposing, jazzy harmonic progression in one voice as a foundation for floating melodic ideas in the other three parts. The third, "Scherzo Rhythmicus," is a tour de force in 20 eighth-note time, leading to a surprising 3/8 conclusion. The final movement is an all-out chromatic race (a la Dimitri Shostakovich) to the climatic final triad! (4, 4.3, 4.6 and 5 octave instruments required) college/professional.

Price: $42.00

 2nd place winner in the 2001 PAS Composition Contest (Large Ensemble)! All the parts get a sustained workout - this is a challenging 10 minute work for dedicated performers!
Scored for 10 players:
3 marimbas (one 4 1/2 octave), 2 vibraphones, xylophone, bells, timpani and 2 multi-percussionists. This piece is very rhythmic, both intense and yet at times tranquil - and would make a noteworthy addition to the repertoire of any ensemble! adv. high school/college.