Pathétique (Beethoven) (Download)

from Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 74 arranged for percussion ensemble by Alan Miller

Alan Miller

Level: Med-Advanced

Duration: 3:40

Personnel: 8 players

State Lists: Missouri | Texas | Indiana | Florida

Release Date: 2009

Product ID : TSPCE-24DL

Price: $35.00

Item #: TSPCE-24DL

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All sounds used in this recording were generated from Virtual Drumline software also by Tapspace.

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Description

Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 8 remains one of his most popular compositions and is commonly known as the Pathétique Sonata. Alan Miller's arrangement for percussion ensemble draws its content from Beethoven's first movement.

Arranged for eight players on mostly pitched percussion instruments, Pathétique is an active and colorfully orchestrated piece that highlights the dexterity of the performers, transforming the original piano work to percussion ensemble with particular musical ingenuity.

Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.

Instrumentation

Glockenspiel
Xylophone
3 vibraphones
3 marimbas—(1) low A, (2) low F
4 timpani
Drums (snare drum, bass drum)
Cymbals (crash cymbal attached to bass drum, high suspended cymbal, medium suspended cymbal, low suspended cymbal)
Tam tam

Reviews

This arrangement of Beethoven’s piano sonata no. 8, the “Pathetique,” is very successful because the scoring captures the style and harmonic structure of the original very well. The arrangement is written for a large ensemble of eight players. The instrumentation includes glockenspiel, three vibraphones, xylophone, three marimbas, and four to five timpani. The keyboard parts include three suspended cymbals to enhance crescendo passages. Other instruments include gong or tam-tam, snare drum, and a concert bass drum with attached cymbal. The publication opens with performance notes that clearly describe how to best perform the work. The marimba 1 part is written for a 4.3-octave marimba, and the two other marimbas need to be low-F instruments.

The parts are equal in difficulty, with each of the keyboard instruments, including the glockenspiel part, requiring four mallets. Each player is challenged with four-voice chords and scale passages that are tossed from one performer to another.

Mallet choices are suggested, but the players have the liberty to try others, if desired. The publication comes with a CD, which is a good source to emulate in preparation for performance. The CD also offers the option of downloading your own parts. This is an excellent tool for teaching both style and technique, and should be received well by audiences.

–George Frock
Percussive Notes
Vol. 48, No. 2, March 2010

Description

Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.

Instrumentation

Glockenspiel
Xylophone
3 vibraphones
3 marimbas—(1) low A, (2) low F
4 timpani
Drums (snare drum, bass drum)
Cymbals (crash cymbal attached to bass drum, high suspended cymbal, medium suspended cymbal, low suspended cymbal)
Tam tam