Variations for King George

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Composer Name

William Kraft

General Info

Year: 1980
Duration: c. 5:00
Difficulty: Advanced
Publisher: NM-West
Cost: $9.99

Movements

Theme
Variation I
Variation II
Variation III
Variation IV
Variation V

Instrumentation

Timpani

Program Notes

William Kraft's Variations for King George is one of the most unique solos ever written for timpani. The work requires some use of 4 marimba mallets on the timpani (in Variation V) to create harmonic sounds not usually associated with timpani. Also, wooden mallets and glissandos are used to create additional effects. Written in 1980, the work is dedicated to William Kraft's good friend George Gaber. Timpanists sitting in the throne will need to feel very comfortable with quick pedaling changes, rolling on one drum while accenting on other drums, and quick drum-to-drum motions. This is a very popular solo to include on university recitals, as it demonstrates all parts of timpani technique and is not simply a tenor solo on bigger drums.

Works for Percussion by this Composer

Solos

2-4-1 - Snare Drum
A Trifle for Timothy - Multiple Percussion
Corrente II - Multiple Percussion
Da Dit - Multiple Percussion
Des Imagistes - Percussion Sextet; Narrator
Divinations - Multiple Percussion
English Suite - Multiple Percussion
French Suite - Multiple Percussion
Images - Timpani
L'Arlesienne - Multiple Percussion
Morris Dance - Multiple Percussion
M'SP - Timpani
Passacaglia - Percussion Solo
Theme and Metric Variations - Multiple Percussion
Two Drums in the Shape of an Etude - Multiple Percussion
Variations for King George - Timpani

Percussion Solos with Orchestra

Concerto for Solo Percussion and Chamber Ensemble - Multiple Percussion; Orchestra
Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra (Kraft) - Timpani; Orchestra
Concerto No. 2 for Timpani and Orchestra, XIII The Grand Encounter - Timpani; Orchestra
Three Miniatures for Percussion and Orchestra - Solo - Multiple Percussion; Orchestra
Triangles: Concerto for Percussion and Ten Instruments - Multiple Percussion; Chamber Ensemble

Percussion Solos with Strings

Music for String Quartet and Percussion - Multiple Percussion; String Quartet

Percussion Ensembles

Colorations - Variable Instrumentation; Graphic Score
Kandinsky Variations - Variable Instrumentation; graphic score
Quartet for Percussion (Kraft) - Percussion Quartet
Scherzo á Due - Multiple Percussion Duet
Suite for Percussion - Percussion Quartet
Trio for Percussion (Kraft) - Percussion Trio

Percussion Ensembles with Orchestra

Concerto for Four Percussion Soloists & Orchestra - Percussion Quartet; Orchestra
Configurations - Concerto for Four Percussion Soloists & Jazz Orchestra - Percussion Quartet; Jazz Orchestra
Momentum for Eight Percussionists - Percussion Ensemble (8)
Three Miniatures for Percussion and Orchestra - Percussion Quartet; Orchestra

Percussion Ensemble with Concert Band

Quintessence: Concerto for Five Percussion Soloists and Concert Band - Percussion Quintet; Concert Band

Percussion Ensemble with Voice

Songs of Flowers, Bells and Death: Contextures IV for Chorus and Percussion Orchestra - Percussion Ensemble (12); Chorus
Theme and Variations (Kraft) - Percussion Quartet; Narrator (optional)

Encounter Series

Encounters I - Multiple Percussion; with tape
Encounters II - Tuba
Encounters III - Multiple Percussion; Trumpet
Encounters IV - Multiple Percussion; Trombone
Encounters V: In the Morning of the Winter Sea - Multiple Percussion; Cello
Encounters VI - A Concertino for Roto-toms and Percussion Quartet - Percussion Quartet; Multiple Percussion
Encounters VII - Multiple Percussion Duet
Encounters VIII - Multiple Percussion
Encounters IX - Multiple Percussion; Saxophone
Encounters X - Marimba; Violin
Encounters XI: The Demise of Suriyodhaya - Multiple Percussion; English Horn
Encounters XII: The Gabrielic Foray - Multiple Percussion; Harp
Encounters XIII - Multiple Percussion; Woodwind Quintet
Encounters XIV: Concerto a Tre - Multiple Percussion, Violin, Piano
Encounters XV - Multiple Percussion, Guitar
Encounters XVI - Multiple Percussion, Flute
Encounters XVII - Multiple Percussion, Clarinet