Suite for Lounge Lizard (Download)

for solo timpani

Bob Bollman

Level: Advanced

Duration: 4:00

State Lists: Florida | Texas

Release Date: 2021

Product ID : TSPCS21-019DL

Price: $16.00

Item #: TSPCS21-019DL

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Description

Originally written in 1986, Suite for Lounge Lizard by Bob Bollman is an impressive tour-de-force for the advanced timpanist. This piece went on to win Bollman the 1986 and 1987 DCI Solo Competition, as well as the 1989 PASIC Solo Competition. Ever since, it’s been performed on many recitals as an unpublished work, and we’re now happy to be presenting it in fully-published form!

The suite contains three “acts” of varying character. Act 1 is a catchy, swing-influenced groove loaded with syncopation. Act 2 is a slower, dramatic movement built on a stately 6/8 ostinato. Act 3 is a sprint to the finish line, featuring blazing-fast licks and incorporating the added colors of a cowbell and a China cymbal. All in all, this suite is a spectacle, perfect for advanced players to perform on recitals or contests!

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

Instrumentation

5 timpani
Cowbell
China cymbal

Reviews

Ready for a barrage of speed and flair on a set of five drums? “Suite for Lounge Lizard” throws down from the very beginning and never lets off the gas pedal. Bob Bollman composed and performed this solo in 1986, winning the DCI timpani individual solo competition two years in a row. Bollman’s performance on the publisher’s website is exceptional, demonstrating the talent needed to successfully play this suite.

The feet and hands both have several challenges throughout, between quick tuning changes and even faster rhythms. Players will need to figure out unique tuning schemes to make the piece work for their drums, as most standard sets of timpani cannot comfortably get the high pitches used in Bollman’s performance; for example, the opening tuning scheme for Bollman is A, E, G, A, and C, potentially requiring 32-, 26-, 23-, 23-, and 20-inch drums.

The piece is broken into three movements, each with a distinct character. The first — after a lightning-fast introduction — establishes a swung feel with quick tuning on a moving bass line and syncopated hits. The second is slightly slower, employing a three-over-two hemiola throughout while also requiring swift tuning for melodic lines. The final section adds a cowbell in a mambo style and a China cymbal for impact and effect. This last act is the most impressive, flipping between speedy syncopated grooves and rapid solo fills that culminate in epic glissandi down the drums to a climactic, emphatic finish.

All three movements fly by at around four minutes, making this solo a perfect closer or encore piece for the ambitious timpanist looking to captivate a crowd with speed and dexterity. “Suite for Lounge Lizard” is an impressive display for the hands and feet of the timpanist, requiring a high level of technical facility in both areas. For those up to an intense challenge of chops and coordination, try Bollman’s award-winning solo for an exciting, high-energy thrill.

—Matthew Geiger
Percussive Notes
Vol. 60, No. 2, April 2022

Description

Instrumentation

5 timpani
Cowbell
China cymbal

Reviews

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