Tragedy of a Young Soldier, The (Download)

suite for solo timpani

Christopher D. Walker

Level: Advanced

Duration: 10:40

State Lists: Missouri | Florida | Texas

Release Date: 2011

Product ID : TSPCS-24DL

Price: $18.00

Item #: TSPCS-24DL

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Description

The Tragedy of a Young Soldier by Christopher D. Walker is a haunting, programmatic work about a young, colonial-period man who is called off to war and subsequently dies on the battlefield. It is written for five timpani and also requires a gong.

The suite is written in three movements: Soldier's Theme, Called to War, and The Aftermath. It requires a mature performer capable of technically demanding pedal work (particularly on the top drum), fast hands, and imagination!

Performed by Christopher D. Walker

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

Instrumentation

5 timpani
Gong

Reviews

This three-movement work is a programmatic journey into the ultimate demise of a colonial soldier.

The first movement presents the soldier's theme and variations upon the theme. The performer must do some pedaling on the 20-inch drum; this should be handled with ease, as all pitch changes are related by a whole step. The performer must also exhibit finesse as it relates to dynamic contrast because of wide shifts in dynamics and crescendo/diminuendo markings thoughout the page.

The second movement has the appearance of a multi-tenor solo with an interesting bit of graphic notation. This "call to war" portrays the battle, in which the soldier meets his end. The aforementioned graphic notation shows the explosions as imagined by the composer; actual clouds of smoke are on the staff, accompanied by instructions to play the right hand on the shells and the left hand on the drumheads. The tam tam is also used in this movement, contributing to the chaotic character.

The third movement is slow and melancholy, as it is meant to portray the aftermath of the battle and the death of the soldier. Some pedaling is required, and the performer must also utilize the center of the drumhead for timbre changes. The work ends with the "final heartbeats" of the soldier.

I can appreciate the imagination of the composer, and his composition definitely tells the intended story. However, programmatically, the work is a bit over the top. More suited for young percussionists, individual movements could be used for solo and ensemble festivals.

–T. Adam Blackstock
Percussive Notes
Vol. 50, No. 4, July 2012