Percussion Ensemble - Level 5 - Digital Download SKU: A0.811252 Composed by Antonio J. Garcia. Contemporary,Jazz,Latin,World. Score and parts. 119 pages. Gordon Cherry #6549777. Published by Gordon Cherry (A0.811252). Two Dreams for Trombone and Percussion EnsembleDr. Justin Alexander (Director, VCU Percussion Ensemble) invited me to create a piece for trombone and percussion ensemble that had roles for more- and less-experienced players so that they could mix within the performance. I so enjoyed composing and performing this work. He estimates the overall difficulty grade of Movement I to be a three on a five-point scale and Movement II to be a four, with a grade four for the overall piece; but some players’ parts (within the eight total in the percussion ensemble) are indeed easier.The two Movements are approximately five minutes each.The first Movement  Bilita Mpash (An Amazing Dream) calls for (1) shekeré/guiro; (2) 5-octave marimba (shared with...); (3) 5-octave marimba (shared with previous); (4) claves/drum set with mounted cowbell; (5) bell/mounted cowbell/congas; (6) hi-hat/suspended cymbal; (7) bass drum; and (8) four toms/maracas.The Second Movement (Running with the Tigers) calls for (1) xylophone; (2) vibraphone/glockenspiel; (3) 5-octave marimba; (4) drum set; (5) shaker/samba whistle/congas (opt. voice); (6) triangle/bell tree/hanging bells/agogo bells (opt. voice); (7) bass drum (opt. voice); and (8) Timpani (opt. voice). Pending difficulty levels, the conga and drum set parts can optionally be split among additional percussionists. The score notes offer a stage plot and many rehearsal tips.Bilita Mpash (An Amazing Dream)The 3-2 Rumba Clave anchors this movement, launched by the shekeré. Rhythmic vamps of multiple bars form the landscape over which the trombone’s melody emerges, followed by a move to double-time 2-3 Rumba Clave (with montuno) and back. The trombone soloist improvises without chordal accompaniment for a while so could reflect on the preceding harmonies or instead freely improvise with no concern as to chord changes, while a later section requires improv over chord changes. After the recap, a surprise tag of the ending phrase in Cha Cha sets up the rubato finish. Bilita Mpash (BILL-it-uh m-POSH) is a Bantu term for an amazing dream, a dream so good that it is the polar opposite of a nightmare-a dream in a blissful state where all is forgiven and forgotten2. Running with the TigersThe opening, written-out marimba solo is somewhat of a nod to vibist Gary Burton’s influence in bringing mallets towards the expression of modern jazz. A 9/8 samba-groove (5+4) transforms to 4/4. None of the percussionists have to have a jazz background, though the drum set player would be more challenged if not already exposed to Latin drumming. The improvised solo section could be all solo trombone or could be divided among various performers, including trading. The recap of the tune begins over 5/8 samba (3+2, later 2+3). The closing arrhythmic drum-set solo crescendos as the optional surprise of percussionists’ (or additional) voices sing at the end. The title of this movement refers to a recurring dream my dad would have, as well as to the active movements of my grandson when sleeping in his earliest years.-Antonio J. GarcíaInstrumentation is for:Solo Trombone and 8-part Percussion Ensemble:shekeré/guiro, 2 5-octave marimbas, claves/drumset with cowbell, bell, congas, hi-hat, suspended cymbal, bass drum, toms, maracas, xylophone, vibraphone, glockenspiel, shaker, samba whistle, congas, triangle, bell tree, hanging bells, agogo bells, bass drum and timpani.This rhythmic and dramatic work includes improvisation by the Trombonist. Listen to the brilliant live performance featuring Mr. Garcia and the Virginia Commonwealth University Percussion Ensemble directed by Dr. Justin Alexander.

Percussion Ensemble - Digital Download SKU: A0.952873 Composed by David Liptak. Contemporary. Score and parts. 81 pages. American Composers Alliance Inc. #4625301. Published by American Composers Alliance Inc. (A0.952873). A concerto in four movements for viola and percussion quartet - PDF download includes score and parts.Percussion needed:Perc. 1: marimba, 4 tom-toms, sizzle cymbal, claves.Perc. 2: vibraphone, maracas, lion's roar, tom-tom, woodblock, tambourine.Perc. 3: crotales, guiro, castanets, tom-tom, suspended cymbal, xylophone.Perc. 4: tubular bells, tam-tam, bamboo wind chimes, 5 temple blocks, tom-tom.

Percussion Ensemble - Level 2 - Digital Download SKU: A0.942726 Composed by Frank Pugh. Standards. Score and parts. 24 pages. Frank Pugh #6018905. Published by Frank Pugh (A0.942726).  I wrote Nuevo-Nueve for an ensemble of nine new first-time percussion students.  Nuevo meaning new or different, and Nueve meaning nine, seemed to be a good title for the piece.  Going along with the concept of nine, the song is written in nine bar phrases and has a total of 99 measures as well.  It uses simple and repetitive patterns to introduce students to the instruments that are utilized in the piece.  Out of the nine students that I originally wrote it for, six were wind players and the other three had never read music.  They had great success with it (and a lot of fun, too!).     The first four parts are all listed as generic mallet parts, and all work pretty well with whatever mallet instruments that you have available.  Part 3 and 4 double each other, but part 4 is in bass clef.  They are written on the same sheet.  If you have the equipment for it, I recommend the following instrumentation: Part 1:  bells or marimba Part 2:  vibraphone Part 3:  marimba Part 4: (optional, bass clef, doubles part 3):  bass guitar, keyboard, or mallet controller Part 5:  hi-hat cymbal, suspended cymbal, mounted tambourine Part 6:  guiro, castanets, maracas, two pitched toms Part 7:  drum set Part 8:  suspended cymbal, china cymbal, splash cymbal, triangle Part 9:  concert bass drum, cabasaBe sure to check out my other small ensemble arrangements here on Sheet Music Plus, and thanks for taking a look!