Rancho Jubilee is the name of a Dominican restaurant on my corner in Washington Heights. It’s fun décor and lively atmosphere mixed with Latin and Caribbean influences provided a nice setting for this--what is most likely the first of its kind--trio for Cajons. Cajon is a Spanish word, meaning Box. The instrument originated in Peru and later became popular in Spanish Flamenco music. Because of the wire strings extending across the Cajon, it has a fantastic sound, much like a drumset, with “snare” and “bass”. In the piece itself, I’ve taken several key rhythmic motives and spread them over a variety of contexts as well as used basic rudiments (such as the paradidle, double-paradiddle, and pardiddlediddle) and juxtaposed them into syncopated rhythms throughout. Besides standard techniques, the different timbre ideas include knocking on the Cajon’s side with knuckles, knocking on the side with the heel of the foot, brushing the surface of the Cajon with fingers and nails, brushing the performer’s leg, and a fist pound directly in the center of the Cajon. My last day writing was spent at Rancho Jubilee, and I am pleased to pay tribute to this restaurant, which continues to be a consistent sanctuary for composing and orchestrating. The trio was commissioned by Drew W. Johnson and premiered at the University of South Carolina.
$25 - #0761 - Beall, Andrew: Song of 'Almah for percussion trio (2 marimbas and vibraphone) [20 min.] (includes 3 parts and score)
$15 - #0793 - Carlin, Yves: The Boy with the Black Mallets Trio for percussion trio [2:30 min.] (includes 3 parts and score)
$15 - #0687 - Clarke, Axel: Roe-Sham-Beau for percussion trio [8 min.] (includes 3 parts and score)
Roe-Sham-Beau is a trio for un-pitched percussion that is based on the West-African rhythm Abekwa. This pattern is present throughout the work, used as support, interjection, and at times the primary focus. The instrumentation and themes are not strictly African. Rather, the rhythm is used to create motivic and timbral contrasts between the Abekwa ostinato and the thematic material played against it.
Sample (Click Arrow to Play)
$15 - #0688 - Clarke, Axel: Juggernaut for percussion trio [6 min.] (includes 3 parts and score)
Juggernaut is a trio for un-pitched percussion based on a concept of “unison variation”. The primary theme stays rhythmically constant throughout but is varied through the drums (pitches) and combinations that play the theme to give it a slightly different character with each appearance. The piece is essentially a Rondo with the “A” theme book-ending sections that feature different players with a stark timbral and rhythmic contrast to the theme. The title implies the ideal feel of the piece; a constant and driving momentum.
Sample (Click Arrow to Play)
$25 - # 0659 - Diaz, Javier: Maleza for percussion trio [9 min.] (includes 3 parts and score)
Maleza incorporates elements of world percussion and urban beats into a two movement through-composed jam.
The drum & bass based opening is followed by a commentary on Abakua and Rumba beats, both of Afro-Cuban origin, which are constantly reshaped by color and rhythmic shifting.
The ending of the piece quotes on the agogo bells a chant for Eleggua the West African deity of destiny and crossroads. Eleggua is the one that opens all paths in life.
Maleza is the Spanish word for forest or wilderness. It is a piece that has an intense rhythmic drive and a very colorful sonic landscape. It was premiered by the NYU Percussion Ensemble.
Mvt. I Sample (Click Arrow to Play)
Mvt. II Sample (Click Arrow to Play)
$15 - # 0631 - Ellington/J. Haas: Big Noise from Winnetka arranged for timpani/vibes/drumset [3-5 min.] (includes 3 percussion parts and full score)
$30 - # 0735 - Lunsqui, Alexandre: SHI for percussion trio [9 min.] (includes 3 parts and score)
For me, the world of percussion instruments has been an open door to a vast array of sonic explorations. Very often this door leads me to the kitchen or a warehouse store nearby. (AL)
Sample (Click Arrow to Play)
$20 - # 0663 - Mason, Brian: Horizons for percussion trio [5 min.] (includes 3 parts and score)
$15 - # 0676 - Morales-Matos, Rolando: Little Rhumba – trio for three bongo players [6-10 min.] (includes 3 parts and score)
Trio was commissioned in 2002 by the New York Philharmonic Percussion section. It is written in a funk-influenced rudimental style and features each player in turn as a soloist, backed by a groove-based snare and floor tom ostinato pattern.
Sample (Click Arrow to Play)
$15 - # 0641 - Tompkins, Joe: Board Games for 3 percussionists on wooden boards [5 min.] (includes 3 full scores)
Board Games is a crowd-pleasing piece for three players performing on wooden bards (with metal-tipped golf gloves). It highlights visual effect and is influenced by Latin rhythms.
$15 - # 0638 - Trant, Aaron: Spiral - percussion trio in two movements [10-11 min.] (includes 3 percussion parts and full score)
Spiral was originally composed in 2002 for the High Street Percussion Ensemble. The work is two continuous movements of contrasting style. The first is composed for unpitched percussion in which the ensemble trades various rhythmic figures. This cycling of these rhythms creates a melodic line over the undercurrent of percussion. The second movement is a slow development of a melody primarily on pitched percussion instruments. This movement is composed as a minimalist work in which small subtle changes in texture/melody occur over long periods of time.
