Rattle the Cage
General Info
Year of Published: 2016
Publisher: Tapspace
Difficulty: Advanced
Duration: 00:13:00
Cost: $48.00
Instrumentation
Player 1: Glockenspiel & Chimes & Sleigh Bells
Player 2: Xylophone & Suspended Cymbal & Sleigh Bells
Player 3: Vibraphone
Player 4: Vibraphone & Suspended Cymbal
Player 5: Marimba
Player 6: Marimba
Player 7: Marimba
Player 8: Concert Bass Drum
Program Notes
My recent compositions have focused on exploring elements of timbre and texture and Rattle the Cage is no different. With this in mind, I made the conscious effort not to ignore familiar musical components such as melody, functional harmony, rhythm, groove, and counterpoint. When I was approached by Dan Armstrong to write a work for keyboard percussion ensemble, I immediately had ideas of exploring these typical instruments through the use of extended techniques and varied implements as well as supplementing their palette with a small collection of non-pitched percussion instruments. After much experimenting, I decided on utilizing 3 marimbas, 2 vibraphones, xylophone, glockenspiel, and chimes mixed with a collection of non-pitched bells, siren, cymbals, brake drum, and bass drum (7-8 players total).
Rattle the Cage is not a program piece - it is instead an abstract exploration of the musical elements mentioned above (most notably timbre and texture). The bulk of the piece is rooted in the (0,1,4) pitch set (for example A, B♭, D♭), which provides much of the “germ" material, which is then developed and elaborated into something more complex. The title is taken from the sounds evoked throughout the composition.
Recent Performance
Works for Percussion by this Composer
Afternoon in March - Marimba
And So the Wind Blew... - Percussion Duo
As One - Percussion Duo
BeyonD the bEnd - Multiple Percussion, Percussion Quintet
Caleidoscópio - Marimba
Capriccio for Viola Solo - Henri Vieuxtemps - Marimba
Ceci N'est Pas Un Jouet - Percussion Duo
Circuit Breaker - Percussion Sextet
Concerto for Marimba and Choir with Percussion - Marimba; Percussion Trio; Choir
Echo Song - Multiple Percussion; Percussion Duo (Soloist and Echo)
Get It! - Multiple Percussion; Bassoon
Homage to Carter - Snare Drum
Impressions of Chinese Opera - Percussion Duo
Prelude Nuevo - Marimba
Quench - Percussion Quartet
Ragtime Collection - Marimba Quartet
Rattle the Cage - Mallet Ensemble
Sammy's Scales - Percussion Duo
Sky Songs - Multiple Percussion; Voice
Song and Dance - Percussion Duo
soniChroma - Percussion Duo; Orchestra
Stir Crazy - Percussion Quartet
Streamline - Percussion Ensemble - (Hand Drums)
The Electric City - Percussion Trio
Together & Not - Percussion Duo - Marimba Duo
Two - A Collection of 10 Concert Pieces for Two-Mallet Marimba Solo - Marimba
Variations (after Viñao) - Marimba