"PRELUDE" for Percussion - (2'0")

It's more a traditional prelude than a Chopinesque one. The performers just come on stage with the audience still yattering away and practicing their coughing ready for the performance (!) - and play something assertive to announce "We're here and ready to start once you lot calm down!"

I wanted to explore the percussion libraries I bought so decided on a piece for unpitched percussion only. I went on to write a second piece which I felt less happy about. 

So, please, if you can afford 2 minutes, give it a hearing and PLEASE comment as you see fit, good and bad. One query is whether you find the click track annoying. I varied it over a number of instruments and articulations but, happy with it as I might be, some may hate it. If it works it's a piece I might offer to a contemporary dance troupe that's building up again after lockdown(s). It was finished earlier this year but I did a final rendering yesterday.

I haven't an adequate score for it yet. The libraries are pretty comprehensive and the samples span anything from midi C2 to around midi C8 so it'll take a lot more work getting it into a score. They're all orchestral rather than jazz or rock samples.

Thank you.

Sounds like a cool piece for a drum corps drum line to do - it would be amazing to hear a whole bunch of people practiced enough to play it in sync all together.  It has a sort of quiet intensity about it rather than the in-your-face kind of drum pieces you'd expect from a drum corps.  Huge variety of instruments here.  Not much else for me to say really in a piece featuring only unpitched percussion.  Entertaining nonetheless!  Thanks for sharing.

Many thanks for listening and your comments, Peter.

In the absence of commenting on the click track I'm hoping it didn't pall too much! In a way it was a pleasant change writing just for unpitched percussion. It started with pastels on black Ingres paper! Not the first time sketches have started like that.  

Cheers.

Woah 2:05 to 2:11, just epic. 

Okno, nice prelude, literally something I'd imagine to listen to while performers are waiting for the public to remain in silence, and no I don't feel like the click track is annoying at all. 

Kind regards ^^!

Very nice I always find very difficult to write for percussion

I'd say the "click track" works, but I wouldn't call it that; I'd call it a "pulse", as it's part of the music and not just a crutch to keep the players together. But it does help the listener stay in the groove, and I totally agree that this would be a good opening number for a percussion concert, where the audience needs something accessible to warm up with. And it's just the right length for this purpose. So yup, I give it a thumbs-up!

One question though -- how many players are needed? Did you write the piece with instruments allocated to people, and did you check that each performer's setup is manageable?

Why not make the pulse using various instruments ... I found the click track distracting at times.  Overall, I enjoyed it; however, I think a more comprehensive structure - direction - more of a dialogue - I think would enhance the work.  It must have been fun writing this~!

The consistent rhythm and cadence must have taken some time to notate. I like your use of the snare drum between the different instruments. I think you've utilized it as a good hook.