Percussion ensemble - complete - and Indoor Percussion First Movement

(Percussion Ensemble) I posted a shorter and incomplete version of the percussion ensemble piece on here a while ago, but now it is complete. The piece is fairly minimalistic and Steve Reich-ish.

I played it for my friends, whom are in an indoor percussion ensemble, and they said it sounds like a winter percussion show. So, I turned most of the ideas into one for the piece entitled Windoor.

The two pieces are based off of one another, so they sound very similar. I'd love any feedback or comments.

These and all of my other pieces can be heard at PandaSneeze, Citizen of ACIDplanet.com

Thanks

Percussion ensemble.MUS

Windoor.MUS

Windoor:

Hehe, makes me think... not MS Windows.... MS Windoors. *chortles*

I wasn't particular enthused with the repetition of the figure at 43. It sounds like a very good musical interjection, but I think you repeat it way too much. I would suggest cutting down on that. Also, the notes in beats 3 and 4 of measure 41 should not be beamed. Beaming this is hard to look at and could generate confusion when reading. Plus it just looks sloppy in my own opinion, not that that means anything or anything... :P Another place I see the problem is marimbas in measure 2. Also, measure 1 should not be a full measure. It should be a pickup measure consisting of only 1 beat. This can be done through the context menu Document and going to Pickup Measure. Define this as a quarter note. After, change all the whole rests in the silent instruments for that bar to quarter-note rests.

Many of your hairpin markings, notably the ones at measure 65 are far too large. I prefer to keep them at the default height, don't mess with them too much, it makes it look very cheap. Also, they collide with the notes in measure 66 with Marimba I and Bass Drums. Not good. These marking in Marimba I starting at measure 8 look rather random and childish. Having that many is not necessary either. You could indicated this pattern for one or two instances, and after that indicate "simile."

Your snare, quads, bass drum, and cymbal parts should all be together in that order since they are as a unit the marching part of the ensemble and are distinguished from the other instruments. Put them all together and under one bracket. The location and inclusion of the cymbals however, can be at your own discretion. Besides, I'm not sure what to do with them myself, anyways. :P

I'm not sure on the standard notation practice for marching snare drum, but I'm not sure what the pickup note is. Stick-click? Rim-shot? Rim-click? The x-note head in the reoccuring figure starting at measure 5 ... same deal. What is that? Rimshot? Rimclick? Indicate these things the first time they appear so the players know what you intended instead of guessing or assuming.

You never tell us what instruments are playing under the Accessories staff. Concert bass drums? Some kind of cymbal? I have no idea. Indicate the instrument in the part - always. Measure 42, I'm not sure what the bass drums are doing there. There are all suddenly on the lines of the stave and one of the five have an X-notehead. If this donates a rim-click, keep them all on their same space and all with X-noteheads. Otherwise, I'm not sure what you intended here.

Bass-clef staves for Vibraphones I and II and Marimba I and II are completely unnecessary - remove them since they are not being used. Likewise the treble stave in Marimba III is unnecessary. The material it has at measure 38 could be given via clef change or covered by Marimba II (while Marimba I covers what is currently Marimba I and II, which would only require three mallets.) On that last note, most of the material between Marimba I and II could be condensed into a single part for 3 or 4 mallets instead. I would suggest this be done. At measure 60 where they have octaves, although this could be played easily with four-mallet technique by all players, you could indicate "divisi" so that separate players cover the top and bottom notes. This would not be necessary, though, and I think it wouldn't be as powerful as having all players play in octaves anyways. Plus, having them play it in octaves with four mallets is more impressive. ;)

Okay... I really don't like the ending here. It doesn't *feel* complete to me. Plus, why not include the extra material from the other piece you have here? I believe the material was in D major and towards the second half of the file. Anyways, I think it could do with more material and development of ideas, but I DO like these ideas. I love the material you have in this piece, a lot of it is very catchy and very groovey - a joy to listen to. Thank you for this pleasurable piece and refreshing ensemble choice. =D

I really like this! Nice and smooth. I think you should definitely write a four-mallet part for the marimbas though to add some more flair. I also thought the ending was too abrupt and very unexpected in a bad way. Again, great job!

Being an indoor percussion ensemble performer myself, the only thing that I do not like is the fact that there is not more variation in the mallet sections. I think that variations each time through would fix that for me. Other than that, great job!

Midis would be nice, as I am a sibelius user.