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According to Sir Isaac Newton, the “aether” was a medium which permeated all of space, which enabled all light and energy to traverse through it. In his piece for percussion ensemble Aether, Francisco Perez attempts to encapsulate this concept through the use of bright and shimmering instruments like crotales, glockenspiel, vibraphones, triangle, and chimes. Although the piece is meant to portray the nebulous aspects of the universe, there is a deep underlying group present in the piece, largely due to the ad lib. djembe part. Aether was commissioned by William Register and the Ashley Ridge High School Percussion Ensemble.
Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.
Crotales (2 octaves)
Glockenspiel
Chimes
3 Vibraphones
3-4 Marimbas† — (1) 4-octave, (2) low A, (1) low C (w/ optional low F indications)
*1 Synthesizer (optional)
Drums — djembe, concert bass drum, *3 concert toms)
Cymbals & gongs — 2-4 suspended cymbals, China cymbal, hi-hat. *splash cymbal)
Accessories — crystal wine glass (tuned to A), triangle, *bell tree)
†if 4 marimbas aren’t available this piece can be performed with 3 instruments with Marimba 2 and Marimba 4 sharing a low C instrument
*optional instruments
Aether starts out with intriguing ethereal sounds, such as crystal glass and bowed vibraphone. It then gradually builds up to the driving thematic motion that makes up the meat of the piece. The individual parts are not incredibly challenging for the ability level, but the composite effect is pleasing and would likely be exciting and satisfying for a high school or young undergraduate group to learn. The piece has a similar feel and similar elements as a winter drumline show, and as such would be a great concert season piece for percussion students to work on and develop their skills on the court/field. The piece has several ostinato parts and syncopated parts, and it incorporates such extended techniques as dead strokes and dampening. The mallet parts have a few challenging runs and some four-mallet chords.
Aether calls for three vibraphones and three or four marimbas, in addition to a few specialized percussion instruments like crotales and djembe, which may not be available to every ensemble. While the piece makes an effort to be accessible to variable sizes of ensembles, it requires a fairly well-stocked instrument inventory.
For a large high school percussion program looking for a new concert piece with enough rhythmic drive and cool effects to engage the students, this piece would be an excellent choice.
–Marilyn K. Clark Silva
Percussive Notes
Vol. 57, No. 2, May 2019
According to Sir Isaac Newton, the “aether” was a medium which permeated all of space, which enabled all light and energy to traverse through it. In his piece for percussion ensemble Aether, Francisco Perez attempts to encapsulate this concept through the use of bright and shimmering instruments like crotales, glockenspiel, vibraphones, triangle, and chimes. Although the piece is meant to portray the nebulous aspects of the universe, there is a deep underlying group present in the piece, largely due to the ad lib. djembe part. Aether was commissioned by William Register and the Ashley Ridge High School Percussion Ensemble.
Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.
Crotales (2 octaves)
Glockenspiel
Chimes
3 Vibraphones
3-4 Marimbas† — (1) 4-octave, (2) low A, (1) low C (w/ optional low F indications)
*1 Synthesizer (optional)
Drums — djembe, concert bass drum, *3 concert toms)
Cymbals & gongs — 2-4 suspended cymbals, China cymbal, hi-hat. *splash cymbal)
Accessories — crystal wine glass (tuned to A), triangle, *bell tree)
†if 4 marimbas aren’t available this piece can be performed with 3 instruments with Marimba 2 and Marimba 4 sharing a low C instrument
*optional instruments
Aether starts out with intriguing ethereal sounds, such as crystal glass and bowed vibraphone. It then gradually builds up to the driving thematic motion that makes up the meat of the piece. The individual parts are not incredibly challenging for the ability level, but the composite effect is pleasing and would likely be exciting and satisfying for a high school or young undergraduate group to learn. The piece has a similar feel and similar elements as a winter drumline show, and as such would be a great concert season piece for percussion students to work on and develop their skills on the court/field. The piece has several ostinato parts and syncopated parts, and it incorporates such extended techniques as dead strokes and dampening. The mallet parts have a few challenging runs and some four-mallet chords.
Aether calls for three vibraphones and three or four marimbas, in addition to a few specialized percussion instruments like crotales and djembe, which may not be available to every ensemble. While the piece makes an effort to be accessible to variable sizes of ensembles, it requires a fairly well-stocked instrument inventory.
For a large high school percussion program looking for a new concert piece with enough rhythmic drive and cool effects to engage the students, this piece would be an excellent choice.
–Marilyn K. Clark Silva
Percussive Notes
Vol. 57, No. 2, May 2019
