-- Last Week -- This Week -- Next Week --

Mark Saya

General Info

Year: 20
Publisher: Media Press Music
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Duration: c.
Cost: Score and Parts - $35.00   |   Score Only - $0.00

Movements

1. Sunday
2. Monday
3. Tuesday
4. Wednesday
5. Thursday
6. Friday
7. Saturday

Instrumentation

Player 1: Snare Drum 1
Player 2: Tom Tom 1
Player 3: Xylophone 1
Player 4: Vibraphone 1
Player 5: Piano 1
Player 6: Slapstick
Player 7: Slapstick
Player 8: Snare Drum 2
Player 9: Tom Tom 2
Player 10: Xylophone 2
Player 11: Vibraphone 2
Player 12: Piano 2

Program Notes

Review

Mark Saya’s percussion ensemble piece for 12 players makes use of physical space to augment its antiphonal nature with a matched quintet on either side of a duo at center stage. The piece is a visceral look at gun violence in America, with the two quintets battling across the venue, and the two central players — and potentially some audience members — caught in the “crossfire.”

The piece begins on “Sunday” softly with a few sparse notes played as quietly as possible. By “Monday” the dynamics begin to grow with a few more percussion instruments adding to the staccato piano notes. On “Tuesday” things start to get loud, with more keyboard percussion joining the piano. By “Wednesday” the keyboards have set up a syncopated pattern with more and more percussion instruments adding in through “Thursday.” By “Friday” the ensemble is in full bedlam with rimshots and shouts of “Bang!” “Saturday” is densely packed with quickly changing dynamics and dissonant chords.

“—Last Week—This Week—Next Week—“ would be a provocative and challenging project for a large percussion ensemble. Though the individual parts are not overly complicated, they do require a strong grasp of rhythm and dynamic control. For an ensemble with the instruments and players available, as well as a large performance space, this would be a lively and thought-provoking addition to a concert.

Recent Performances

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Works for Percussion by this Composer

Solo Works

Attention Span – Snare Drum
The Murphy Sonata – Vibraphone

Ensemble Works

-- Last Week -- This Week -- Next Week -- - 12 Players
Bachanons – Percussion Trio
Bahamut –
From the Book of Imaginary Beings – Percussion Trio
Preludes Revisited – Percussion Duo; Piano
The Fauna of Mirrors – Percussion Trio
Three Morlocks (No. 1 from a 2nd series of Imaginary Beings) – Percussion Trio
Tigre Capiangos (No. 3 from a 2nd series of Imaginary Beings) – Percussion Trio