“A Bird Sings” for Marimba Soloist & Percussion Ensemble

Description

A Bird Sings

Peter Erskine

To the memory of John Wyre

“The bird does not sing because it has an answer — it sings because it has a song.”

Premiered at the University of Maryland Summer Percussion Workshop July 2007 featuring She-e Wu on solo marimba (Marimba 1), with Alan Abel, John Tafoya, Peter Erskine, et al

Scored for 7 players : Player I. Marimba 1 (5 octave); Player II. Marimba 2 (5 octave) + Temple Blocks (5);  Player III. Vibraphone (w/ motor);  Player IV. Chimes / Xylophone / Glockenspiel;  Player V. 4 Timpani & 2 Concert Bass Drums;  Player VI. Small Gong (tuned to “G”), Large Gong, Triangle, 2 Tuned Bells (Bb + D) & Piatti;  Player VII. Drumset & shaker

Commissioned by a consortium of the following Professors, Percussion Departments & Schools:  Professor F. Anthony Ames, University of Maryland School of Music;  Professor John Tafoya, Indiana University School of Music;  Professor John Kilkenny, George Mason University School of Music;  Professor C. William Rice, James Madison University School of Music;  Professor Michael Burritt, Northwestern University School of Music;  Professor Karolyn Stonefelt, The State University of New York at Fredonia;  Professor J. B. Smith, Arizona State University School of Music;  Professor Fernando Meza, University of Minnesota School of Music;  Professor Jonathan Haas, New York University School of Music;  Professor John R. Beck, North Carolina School of the Arts;  Professor Dean Witten, Rowan University.

Duration = 11:30 approx.    Copyright © 2006 / Ersko Music

Purchase includes PDF files of all player parts plus conductor’s score.   Purchase also includes an mp3 version / recording of the piece featuring Wade Culbreath (performing all of the percussion parts) & Peter Erskine (on drums)