Motion No. 2

Nicholas V. Hall

General Info

Year of Published: 2024
Publisher: Tapspace Publications
Difficulty: Advanced
Duration: 00:03:30
Cost: Score and Parts - $32.00   |   Score Only - $0.00

Instrumentation

Player 1: Tom Tom (High and Medium) & Kick Drum (Shared) & China Cymbal (Shared) & Splash Cymbal (Shared)
Player 2: Tom Tom (Medium High and Medium Low) & Kick Drum (Shared) & China Cymbal (Shared) & Splash Cymbal (Shared)

Program Notes

Motion No. 2 is the second piece in a series of works for percussion duo by Nicholas V. Hall. Continuing the series’ goal of challenging two performers to act as a single unit, this work focuses on common rhythmic ideas found in funk and rock drumset playing. The players share a horizontally mounted kick drum, China cymbal, and splash cymbal while co-creating melodies and fills using two high/low pitched toms each. The result is an exciting, note-rich tour de force for two worthy percussionists and their audience!

Review

“Motion No. 2” is a short work for two percussionists on a shared setup of toms, mounted bass drum, and cymbals. The second in a series of works for percussion duo, composer Nicholas V. Hall describes the piece as a study of rock and funk rhythms derived from drumset grooves. Largely composed of clear, repeating rhythmic material, a performance at the written tempo lasts about 3. minutes.

The musical material consists primarily of marching bass drum-esque splits and hocketed sixteenth-note rhythms around the drums and cymbals, punctuated by powerful unison moments. A brief middle section preserves these textural ideas but provides contrast in the form of quieter dynamics and the thinner timbre of bass drum rim clicks. The music then builds energy through an extended passage of split triplets before repeating the opening section and ending with a short, bombastic coda.

The simple, groove-based rhythmic material and small, accessible instrumentation in “Motion No. 2” make it playable for a wide variety of ability levels and performance scenarios. I imagine this work being performed by a pair of young students with well-developed technique, college students looking for a short, fun piece to add to a recital, or a duo looking for something accessible that travels easily. by Marco Schirripa

Works for Percussion by this Composer

Template:Hall, Nicholas V Works