Eckie's Beat

Football time at Mississippi State University brings all the standard scenes: tailgating, excited fans, and marching drumlines! This cadence is part of the game-day performance tradition by the MSU “Famous Maroon Drumline” as they liven up the crowds at “The Junction” on the grounds of the campus football stadium.

Lasting almost two minutes, this cadence incorporates a variety of performance techniques (stick clicks, rim playing, tenor crossovers, split cymbal fusion crashes, and bass drum muffling) as well as showcasing some pretty hip part-to-part writing with syncopated sections hits, interlocking accent patterns, and features for just about each instrument part. Next time you need a cadence for your experienced drumline, save some time writing from scratch and pass out this head-bobbing parade groove.

—Joshua D. Smith
Percussive Notes
Vol. 60, No. 5, October 2022