Study No. 1 for percussion quartet

Commissioned by Percussive Arts Society

PROGRAM NOTE

Study No. 1 for percussion quartet is my first work for percussion ensemble with the aim of exploring a wide range of timbres within a somewhat confined instrumentation. Each player’s setup has at most four individual instruments using various implements to create a spectrum of sound from rounded and chorale-like to metallic, bright, and playful. There are three main sections, the heart of which is inspired by marching band cadences, bookended by sections that are inspired by the West African “talking drum” in which various types of pitch bending and speech-like rhythmic patterns are explored.

— Jessie Montgomery

PERFORMANCE NOTE

m. 6: Continuously blow through surgical tubing inserted into drum shell while performing tremolo as noted, resulting in a rising and falling pitch bend during this section.

m. 72, Player 1: Use upside down crotale to pitch bend the drum head to create a “talking drum” effect that has a metallic overtone to it.

m. 84, Player 2; m. 94, Players 1-3: Strike loose crotale and dip into metal bowl with water resulting in a pitch bend of about a half step down and back in the notated rhythm.

The resulting crotale pitches are notated for reference in the score.

INSTRUMENTATION

Instrumentation: 4 percussionists

Tom-toms:

• 4 different sizes of double-headed tom-toms, 1 per player
• Player 1 with option of snares on or off (tenor drum)

4 loose crotales with the following pitches, sounding 15ma:

• Player 1: D
• Player 2: B♭
• Player 3: G
• Player 4: E♭

7 metal bowls (mixing / salad bowls), as follows:

• 4 bowls without water
• 3 bowls with water for Players 1, 2, & 3

4 triangles:

• 1 per player, pitched from low to high

REQUIRED IMPLEMENTS

For all players, except as noted:

• Threaded rods
• Drumsticks
• Wire brushes
• Soft timpani mallets
• Vibe mallets with rattan shafts
• Bow (Player 4 only)
• Long surgical tube (Player 4 only)