Spero

Michael Burritt

General Info

Year: 2019
Duration: c. 10:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: KPP
Cost: Score and Parts - $55.00   |   Score Only - $0.00

Instrumentation

Snare Drum, Tenor Drum, Cajon, Tam Tam
Player I: Vibraphone, 3 Congas, Crotales, Bass Drum
Player II: Vibraphone, 4 Tom toms
Player III: 5.0 Marimba, 4 Tom toms
Player IV: Piano

Program Notes

Spero means hope in latin and comes from the phrase, "dum spiro, spero" - when I breathe, I hope. During my travels this past summer while writing this piece, I kept reflecting on the need for hope. It also struck me that when I do think of hope, I think about my students and young people everywhere who are the hope for the future of music, and so much more.

I have wanted for some time to write a piece for solo drum and chamber ensemble. Spero features muted tenor drum and snare drum in addition to cajon. I am a drummer first, and snare drumming in particular is absolutely the foundation of my performing and teaching. The work is a nod to one of my favorite pieces in the repertoire, Mudra, by Eastman graduate and percussion legend Bob Becker.

Spero is dedicated to Liz and Stephen Biggar for their kindness and enthusiasm for the arts.

The work received its premier on September 27, 2019 in Kilbourn Hall at the Eastman School of Music. -MJB

Recent Performances

To submit a performance please join the TEK Percussion Database

Works for Percussion by this Composer

Marimba Solo

Azure - Marimba
Caritas - Marimba
Etudes No. 4, 5, 6 - Marimba
Fermo - Marimba
Four Movements for Marimba - Marimba
I Gabbiani
Marimbetudes
Marimbetudes II
October Night
Out of the Blue - Marimba; Piano
Preludes 1-5
Scirocco
Shadow Chaser (Solo)
The Offering (Prelude 6)

Marimba Solo with Percussion Ensemble

Rounders - Marimba; Percussion Trio
Shadow Chaser (Ensemble) - Marimba; Percussion Sextet
Timeless (Percussion Ensemble Version) - Marimba; Percussion Trio
To the Nines - Marimba; Percussion Trio
Willow - Marimba; Percussion Quartet

Snare Drum Solo

Cooper - Snare Drum
Spero - Snare Drum; Percussion Trio; Piano

Multiple Percussion Solo

Sticks of Eloquence - Multiple Percussion

Percussion Concerto

Concerto for Marimba (Burritt) - Marimba; Chamber Orchestra
Duo Concertante - Concerto for Percussion and Clarinet - Multiple Percussion; Clarinet; Wind Ensemble

Percussion Ensemble

MAG7: Rhapsody No. 1 - Percussion Septet
Marimba Quartet (Burritt) - Marimba Quartet
The Doomsday Machine - Percussion Quartet
Traveling Music - Percussion Octet; Horn
Waking Dreams - Marimba; Percussion Quintet