Arepo

Tyler Nechamkin

General Info

Year of Published: 2022
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Difficulty: Medium Advanced
Duration: 00:04:45
Cost: $40.00

Instrumentation

Player 1: China Cymbal & Ice Bell & Opera Gong & Brake Drum & Suspended Cymbal & Glockenspiel
Player 2: Concert Bass Drum & Swish Knocker & Djembe
Player 3: Vibraphone
Player 4: Vibraphone & Rainstick & 4 Concert Tom Toms
Player 5: Marimba & Suspended Cymbal & Bongos
Player 6: Marimba & Bongos
Player 7: Marimba & Triangle (Medium)
Player 8: Marimba & Triangle (Large)

Program Notes

Arepo was premiered by the McKinney High School Percussion Ensemble. Inspired by the film Tenet, the work centers on the idea that time is nonlinear - it flows backwards and forwards all at once. This is reflected in the structure of the piece. In ABCBA form, the piece travels forwards then backwards through its sections and ends the same way it begins. Tenet itself takes inspiration from a five-word Latin palindrome called the Sator Square. The words in the Sator Square roughly translate like: SATOR, to sow; AREPO, unknown; TENET, to hold; OPERA, work; ROTAS, rotate. The namesake Arepo being of unknown origin inspires the enigmatic, dreamlike nature of the piece. The 5/4 meter, looping harmonic structure, disorienting melodies, and pulsing drums help contribute to a surreal and reflective experience for the audience.