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With Timpani Forces, Mendel Lee has crafted a four-movement, virtuosic tour de force for solo timpani. While it doesn’t lack for rhythmic virtuosity—particularly in the second movement, Explosion—its attention to melodic and lyrical content and the creative use of glissandi result in a unique addition to the repertoire. The included performance notes and a performer-friendly page layout aid in preparation.
Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.
Composer Mendel Lee’s stated goal was to “write solo timpani literature that placed more emphasis on melodic and lyrical content rather than percussive and rhythmic virtuosity. ” Bravo, on that count! As much as I love timpani, much of the solo timpani literature leaves a lot to be desired. This four-movement piece makes a valiant effort, and there are some excellent ideas.
The first movement, “Rising, Falling, ” begins with strummed stacked fifths, adds some canon or pedal point, and gradually changes the chord by a half or whole step. The second movement, “Explosion, ” is a perpetual motion in sixteenth notes between the inner two drums, with the outer drums gradually moving in contrary motion, again by half steps. The third movement, “Pendulum, ” is based on two-part counterpoint, moving mainly in glissandi, and there is interesting use of what amounts to slow pedal trills. The fourth movement, “Momentum, ” again in stacked fifths with half-step alternations, veers dangerously close to being just percussive and rhythmic, but provides a dramatic finish.
The primary drawbacks here are that the piece is 17 minutes long, and the melodic content is rather limited, even for timpani.
—William Moersch
Percussive Notes
Vol. 52, No. 2. March 2014
With Timpani Forces, Mendel Lee has crafted a four-movement, virtuosic tour de force for solo timpani. While it doesn’t lack for rhythmic virtuosity—particularly in the second movement, Explosion—its attention to melodic and lyrical content and the creative use of glissandi result in a unique addition to the repertoire. The included performance notes and a performer-friendly page layout aid in preparation.
Use of this product is governed by the license terms outlined here.
Composer Mendel Lee’s stated goal was to “write solo timpani literature that placed more emphasis on melodic and lyrical content rather than percussive and rhythmic virtuosity. ” Bravo, on that count! As much as I love timpani, much of the solo timpani literature leaves a lot to be desired. This four-movement piece makes a valiant effort, and there are some excellent ideas.
The first movement, “Rising, Falling, ” begins with strummed stacked fifths, adds some canon or pedal point, and gradually changes the chord by a half or whole step. The second movement, “Explosion, ” is a perpetual motion in sixteenth notes between the inner two drums, with the outer drums gradually moving in contrary motion, again by half steps. The third movement, “Pendulum, ” is based on two-part counterpoint, moving mainly in glissandi, and there is interesting use of what amounts to slow pedal trills. The fourth movement, “Momentum, ” again in stacked fifths with half-step alternations, veers dangerously close to being just percussive and rhythmic, but provides a dramatic finish.
The primary drawbacks here are that the piece is 17 minutes long, and the melodic content is rather limited, even for timpani.
—William Moersch
Percussive Notes
Vol. 52, No. 2. March 2014
