Quartet

Until Flesh is Torn from Bone - Brant Blackard

This piece is directly influenced by one of my favorite styles of music: death metal. I’ve always been attracted by the contradiction of a bunch of sweaty dudes screaming about death who are also some of the most technically accomplished musicians I’ve ever heard. I’ve attempted to explore several aspects of this music which I adore: the speed and endurance required of the musicians, the surprising and unpredictable metric modulations, and the often relentless pacing. In an attempt to make the piece slightly more accessible to percussionists not accustomed to this style, the drumset part does not require a double-bass pedal, though any creative adaptation of that into the music would not be discouraged…

Dirty Bombs - Ben Hausman

I grew up in a military family, constantly surrounded by the history of the wars our county has been a part of. As I grew with age I found myself fascinated, but terrified by the destructive world of nuclear power and our continuous temptation of fate.

I wrote dirty bombs in the early months of 2021, stuck inside from the bitter cold and the raging pandemic at the time. I was frustrated and worried with the situation at hand, and found my ability to express these thoughts through this piece.

dirty bombs has text throughout it, inspired by different moments in nuclear history. The piece opens with audio from news reports from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, a memorable source of anxiety through my upbringing. Later in the piece is text about what is often referred to as the “Devil Core Incident”, a failed experiment that led to fatal results in 1946. Finally, I reached out to many of my peers to share their thoughts and experiences about nuclear anxiety and how it has affected them.

I would like to give special thanks to: Drew Barnes, Kelley Louder, Douglas Nesler, Brice Sanborn, Lillian Sullivan, and McKenzie Squires, for each lending me their voice in this piece. This would not have been possible without you all.

I hope you enjoy dirty bombs.

The Underside of Make Believe - JaRon Brown

The Underside of Make Believe is a tell-tale story bursting with investigative exploration of the concept of spectacle at its rawest and most upmost understanding. It was created to depict that which sometimes seems “too good to be true,’ glamoured by the alluring soundscapes divine. The musical work is full of wonder but also haunted by the feeling of looming unforeseeable danger. At times prickly against the ears, this piece disarms the listener within a rioted rich melodic obsessiveness that solemnly swears that too much of a good thing always leaves the shell of the host husked. Is this all just one long of a fever dream?

Pavane for a Dead Princess - Arr. by Andrew Bockman

Maurice Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante défunte (Pavane for a dead princess) has always held a particularly special place in my listening over the years. Ravel’s music is infinitely colorful and dynamic, making it well suited for arrangement and adaptation (as evidenced by the composer’s many brilliant orchestrations of his and others work throughout his lifetime). This arrangement for percussion quartet combines elements from both the original piano and the orchestral versions of the piece, along with a few personal touches, which use the many timbral possibilities of percussion instruments to highlight and evoke the character of particular moments in the music.

This work would be appropriate for anyone from an advanced high school group to a professional chamber ensemble, and would fit well on any university percussion ensemble program. While the individual parts are easily approachable, this arrangement requires a great deal of musical sensitivity. It serves as an excellent opportunity to develop fundamental chamber music skills for students, or to complement the repertoire of those interested in performing music of the past that is apt for any audience.

This arrangement was completed in 2020 and premiered by the Eastman Chamber Percussion Ensemble on March 23rd, 2021 in Rochester, NY.

3DO - YoungKyoung Lee

Program notes coming soon

Watercolor Sun - Ivan Treviño

Watercolor Sun (2023) was commissioned by the Grammy-winning ensemble, Third Coast Percussion. It was written for the quartet to perform on one single 4.3 octave marimba. I have been friends with the members of Third Coast for many years and have watched them from afar with much admiration. It brings me great joy to write music for them.

There are moments in life that create a feeling I can’t quite describe. Like waking up in a sunlight room, or sharing a meal with old friends, or going on a road trip with someone you love. There’s a jovial, euphoric feeling to it. I feel it when I catch the sunrise with my family, and I feel it when I play music too. Maybe it is gratitude, or peace, or something in between. Whatever this feeling is, it is at the heart of Watercolor Sun.

– Ivan Trevino, Nov. 2023

Agnosthesia - Micheal Calamas

Program notes coming soon