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 4 - Digital Download SKU: A0.881252 Composed by Gary Powell Nash. African,Contemporary,World. Score and parts. 122 pages. Gary Powell Nash #3553601. Published by Gary Powell Nash (A0.881252). Han River Fantasy Suite is based on and inspired by Nash’s first trip to Vietnam in 2007.   Commissioned by a percussion and horn duo, it is a five movement chamber concerto with mvts 1 and 2 performed continuously, as are mvts 4 and 5, giving the aural perception of 3 movements.  Mvt. 1, Dawning and mvt. 2, Morning Power Walks stem from Nash’s morning routine during that particular journey as he walked along the Han River in Danang, Vietnam every morning.  Mvt 1 is a slow and lyrical prelude, with vibraphone and chimes serving as melodic and colorful supporting lines for the horn solo and that immediately proceeds to Mvt. 2, a fast and somewhat fiery movement, alluding to a fast power walk. Mvt. 3. Moonlight Stroll is slow and lyrical, highlighted by bowed vibes and triangle being struck while placed on a timpani during a glissando in the middle section.  Mvt. 4, Boat Ride is a fast and dance-like, composed in compound duple meter and transitions to mvt. 5, Going Home, in a slightly faster simple quadruple meter.

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 3 - Digital Download SKU: A0.835781 Composed by Paul Burnell. Contemporary. Score and parts. 6 pages. Paul Burnell #3222647. Published by Paul Burnell (A0.835781). Composed 2015. One of a series of fourteen accompaniments to texts published between 1886-1899 Duration 4:45 approx. For percussion (three players) and narrator Narrator text - from 'Le Horla' by Guy de Maupassant (1850 - 1893), published 1887.  English translation by Jonathan Sturges (1864–1911) published 1890. Guy de Maupassant was a French writer, remembered as a master of the short story.  It has been suggested that the word horla is a blending of the French words hors (outside) and là (there) and the title can be interpreted as the what’s out there. Percussion: Wind wand or bullroarer and two guiros (or similar). Players read from the score. Narrator cues are shown in the score in boxed text and below in square brackets.  Between rehearsal letters [D] and [H] the percussionists maintain tempo; the narrator cues are for guidance only.