Percussion Ensemble - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.912929 Composed by Brandon Nelson. Concert,Contemporary. Score and parts. 8 pages. Brandon Nelson #2907437. Published by Brandon Nelson (A0.912929). For percussion duo.  Required instruments:  bells, vibraphone, xylophone, temple blocks, suspended cymbals (3 sizes).  General programming.  Advanced Intermediate level.Commissioned by Chris Nadeau for CAn-Duo.  Premiered at Colorado State University, October 16, 2016.It is common knowledge that the universe we see is composed of tiny particles known as atoms. For much of scientific history, it was thought that atoms were made up of three indivisible particles: protons, neutrons, and electrons.Thanks to contemporary advances in physics, we now know that these particles are, in fact, made up of much smaller particles and that these constituents sometimes behave in ways that confound what we thought we knew of the physical universe.In this piece, I have portrayed one type of these subatomic particles, the quark. There are six types (or flavors) of quark: up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom. These are differentiated by the type of charge they carry and their masses.The first movement is Strange Quark. This flavor has a negative charge and is relatively light. Much like the particle, this movement often behaves in unusual ways.Top Quark, the second movement, portrays the quark flavor that is by far the heaviest. Slow and massive, this particle allowed for the study of the famous Higgs boson.The final movement, Up Quark, is light and decays quickly, much like this particle that contributes to both protons and neutrons.The universe is indeed a wonder to behold and its scale is hardly comprehensible to the human mind. And yet, it is becoming increasingly apparent that there exists an entire universe yet to uncover in the most infinitesimal pieces of matter. It is my hope that the wonder and mystery this inspires be conveyed through this piece of music.

Percussion Ensemble - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1305782 Composed by Jerrod Bettis and Serena Lauren Ryder. Arranged by Josh Ball. 21st Century,Pop,Rock. 1 pages. The BeatCave #895229. Published by The BeatCave (A0.1305782). Color-coded Top 40 chart for use with Boomwhackers, Xylophones, Keyboards, and all pitched percussion instruments.

Percussion Ensemble - Digital Download SKU: A0.835168 Composed by Cody Weinmann. Dance,Film/TV,Pop,Video Game. Score and parts. 4 pages. Cody Weinmann #6138201. Published by Cody Weinmann (A0.835168). This is an original piece for mixed ensemble. It has piano, guitars, strings, percussion, and more! Why is it called Blue Drive? I have synesthesia -- the ability to see colors when hearing pitches. I know, it sounds weird, but I see the color blue when I see the note G. But anyway, this piece was inspired by an ad I heard on TV. I was wondering if I could compose something similar to what I heard. This is what came out. Hopefully, you all benefit from this music. This is good for small ensembles that are of many different instruments. Go ahead and do a virtual concert of this. It would be great! It has a great driving rhythm that could get your heart pumping.

Percussion Ensemble - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1024088 Composed by Zachary M. Robinson. 20th Century. Score and parts. 30 pages. Zach Robinson #1919711. Published by Zach Robinson (A0.1024088). Burlesque is a literary, dramatic, or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of seriousness, or by ludicrous treatment of a subject. This is a waltz based around how I view my undergraduate studies and of the money and time I have spent, despite my high academic standing. It ends solemnly, yet also longingly to suggests that I hope college will eventually get harder and I will actually learn what I have set out to... We can all dream can't we.

Percussion Ensemble - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.942719 Composed by Frank Pugh. Celtic,Contemporary,Standards. Score and parts. 8 pages. Frank Pugh #3550781. Published by Frank Pugh (A0.942719). The title of Dandelion Wind comes from watching the white seeds blow off of a dandelion head in a strong breeze.  Once in motion, the seeds travel with the wind until they come to a final resting place on the ground below.  This piece flows along in that vein of a seedling's windblown journey.Although two marimbas were used in the sound file, the piece works equally well with vibraphones, xylophones, or a vibe/xylo/marimba mix.  It has a slight Celtic feel to it, and it comes in at just over 1:30 if played at the minimum suggested tempo.  It's a great choice for your percussion ensemble or to showcase a pair of mallet players in your program.  The piece only requires one mallet per hand.If you would like to know more about me and what I do, you may locate me on LinkedIn at Frank Pugh Independent Composer / Arranger .  You may also find me on Facebook at @fpughmusic .  I would love to know where my music is being performed if you care to share it.  Thanks!

Percussion Ensemble - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1345315 By Soundgarden. By Chris Cornell. Arranged by David R. Peoples. Classical,Contemporary,Grunge,Rock. 68 pages. Bluesilhouettes Music #930151. Published by Bluesilhouettes Music (A0.1345315). What I really like about this song is its uniqueness... is it grunge? Psychedelic? Alternative? Hard Rock? Contemporary chamber music? Theoretically - is it some sort of jazz-fuzed harmonic progression or a clever soundscape of melody notes outside of chords? This version is not a cover. Fragments of musical elements are translated into the ensemble. While occasionally exhibiting moments of rock, the composition evolves into a more profound expression, capitalizing on the musical possibilities of a percussion ensemble. This arrangement was crafted for the University of North Georgia’s percussion ensemble, directed by Dr. Steven Walker.Hear full digital audio mockup offsite

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!

Percussion Ensemble - Level 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1324084 By The Eurythmics. By Annie Lennox and David Stewart. Arranged by David R. Peoples. Classical,Contemporary,Pop,Rock. 100 pages. Bluesilhouettes Music #912276. Published by Bluesilhouettes Music (A0.1324084). Annie Lennox and David Stewart had recently ended their relationship and disbanded their band. They still worked together - and built this song in a tiny warehouse using whatever technology they could get their hands on. In a day where most music was produced in the large studios backed by industry money - they pioneered a hit without the big studio. Securing a loan, they procured essential equipment—a compact setup comprising an 8-track tape recorder, mixer, effects processors, synthesizers, a drum computer, and a compact dynamic microphone. Some of the emotions from their lives went into the song - a fresh start on the heels of emotional events. Reflecting on that period, Lennox candidly remarked, “I was feeling very vulnerable. The song was an expression of how I felt: hopeless and nihilistic.�This version is not a cover. Fragments of musical elements are translated into the ensemble. While occasionally exhibiting moments of dance, the composition evolves into a more profound expression, capitalizing on the musical possibilities of a percussion ensemble. This arrangement was crafted for the University of North Georgia’s percussion ensemble, directed by Dr. Steven Walker.Listen to mockup offsite

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 - Level 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.784338 Composed by Joshua Hauser. Instructional. Score and parts. 38 pages. Slide Ride #5288673. Published by Slide Ride (A0.784338). 1 Octave Scale Studies in 15+ keys for 4-part ensembles of like or mixed instruments If this is your first exposure to these scale studies, you are in for a treat! Donuts, if you make a mistake!The initial incarnation of these studies were written for trombone quartet and we would play them in the Tennessee Tech Trombone Choir with the challenge that whomever made the first mistake had to buy donuts for the rest of the ensemble. Since then I have brought that version to several clinics and warm up sessions. One time before I got to explain the title, a fellow trombone professor said, Oh, I get it! Don’t step in the holes!I only wish I had thought of that myself... Since we have one of the best donut shops in TN here in Cookeville, treating the studio to sugar coated goodies was always my intent.As with those initial exercises, you can vary these as much as you’d like.·     Choose a tempo.·     Choose a dynamic.·     Choose an articulation/style.One way I like to play these is to have one person be the model, playing the entire scale over and over while everyone else plays the fragmented versions. That helps everyone to keep on track and stay in time. Double or triple up the parts for ensemble cohesion with a larger group.Practice one key, gradually speeding it up to improve fluidity, or choose a variation and take it through all keys, playing version A, B, C, or D then skipping to play the same set in a new key.If you want an additional challenge, play them in different octaves or change the key. Play the F Major set in f minor (all forms), different modes, etc. Players really have to be on their toes to remember if they are playing melodic minor in the ascending or descending form! For jazz players, try swinging them in dorian or mixolydian modes.The variations are endless!If you are using these with transposing instruments, 1) is F Major in Concert Pitch, 2) is Bb Major in Concert pitch, and so on. When you reach a scale that is enharmonic for another key (Db/C#, Gb/F#, or Cb/B), they are presented in both keys for each instrument so Trumpets can play in Eb while the Flutes are playing in C# with similar examples for all keys.All Donut Etudes with the same volume number are compatible so you can play them in mixed quartets or large ensembles with one or more instruments/people on part 1 and a different instrument on part 2, etc. Since the quartets are all identical, conductors/coaches can use any of the scores to tell which part should be playing at what time. Once you have played a scale with one set of parts, everyone can rotate to a different part and play the same scales again!Enjoy!

Percussion Ensemble - Level 5 - Digital Download SKU: A0.1027778 Composed by MohammadHadi Ayanbod. 20th Century,Contemporary. Score and parts. 25 pages. Rimorarte Edition #5996957. Published by Rimorarte Edition (A0.1027778). In GRAVITY I explored different gravities as forces we not only feel them in every moments of our lives, but also thinking of living without or escaping from them seems impossible. Likewise, those gravities exist in the music, make us feel the music continuous, desirable, logical and an integrated language of art. The exploration of the path from chaos to unity, and from unity to multiplicity, is where the title came from. GRAVITY consists of two main sections. The first section, which shows the fully-grown and flourished musical ecosystem, and the second part; a flashback to just after big-bang, which tries to musicalize the creation of the gravity! In the first section, I’ve used the concept of horizontal and vertical minimalism. At the very beginning of the piece we have a structure that bring the idea of the vertical minimalism out. In every moment, each instrument plays the same note as others. However, the narrative line is divided into different octaves, so, the melody is not the same in spite of the fact that each instrument plays the same tone. This structure also reminds the paradoxical ladder or optical staircase illusion. The narration is built up until it reaches temporal climax. At the same time, this melody starts again from the beginning with some microscopic differences visible vividly to musicians. This semi reciprocating musical narration, could be observed as a musical example of the staircase illusion. After this part, but still in the first section of the music, I’ve used the horizontal (traditional) minimalism idioms to explore the bounding forces present in the music. Although, what interesting here is the creation of synthetic voices which is the result of different amounts of the nuances and different combinations of the sound. For keen ears, it seems like shades of neon lights, penetrate into one another in the scale of time and create a big picture of micro fluctuating objects. In the second section or just after big-bang, I’ve observed and recreate musically, the very moment of creation of the gravity just after the big-bang. Here, we don’t have melody, rhythm, structure, narration and other aspects of the music in the traditional way, although all of them are present in the music. very single sound or noise is meaningful and showing the assemblage process of the forces in the music to create a melody line. I’ve occupied idioms of contemporary Sonorism genre to create the atmosphere. This highly complex texture shows the virtuosity of interpreters and the capability of the instruments in avant-garde literature and extended techniques. The music is concluded by a fast-tempo finale, with the instruction of fortissimo possiblile (as loud as possible). The piece, in fact, will not be finished as a morendo, but, it opens a space for hypothetically living structure; constantly grows, flourishes, shines and decays.