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Flammus
Flammus is one of those drumline exercises passed down through generations of marching percussionists. Veteran battery technique guru Murray Gusseck wrote it for the Santa Clara Vanguard in the late 90s, where it had a home as a core exercise for the group for many years thereafter. It was written to be a syncopated, groove-oriented vehicle to work on flam drags, but with an emphasis on groove. And that is the ultimate challenge this exercise presents—how to groove while playing flam drags! Easier said than done, especially at faster tempos. Test your technical mettle and see for yourself!
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
• Marching snare drums
• Marching tenors
• Marching bass drums (5)
Written in the late 1990s as a part of the Santa Clara Vanguard exercise packet, “Flammus” was originally included in the book Fresh Perspectives for the Modern Drumline under the title “Flammus Nondragginus.” This newly published, stand-alone version includes commentary by the composer regarding suggestions for approaching the exercise as well as some background on the exercise. A physical score is available for purchase, with individual parts available for download from the Tapspace website through a provided code.
The purpose of this exercise was to assist in the development of a variety of flam rudiments including flam accents, flam taps, flam drags, and inverted flam drag pataflaflas. Beyond this, the exercise was meant to put these rudiments into a 4/4 groove to assist the ensemble in developing their sense of time and groove. The exercise delivers with an approachable groove that provides a framework for many of the rudiments mentioned as well as a more technically demanding “tag” at the end.
Those involved in the pageantry arts will appreciate this small look into the world of Murray Gusseck’s writing style and approach to technical exercises. Ensemble directors interested in incorporating “Flammus” into their warm-ups will appreciate the availability of individual parts they can now provide their ensemble.
—Brian Nozny
Percussive Notes
Vol. 59, No. 1, February 2021
Flammus is one of those drumline exercises passed down through generations of marching percussionists. Veteran battery technique guru Murray Gusseck wrote it for the Santa Clara Vanguard in the late 90s, where it had a home as a core exercise for the group for many years thereafter. It was written to be a syncopated, groove-oriented vehicle to work on flam drags, but with an emphasis on groove. And that is the ultimate challenge this exercise presents—how to groove while playing flam drags! Easier said than done, especially at faster tempos. Test your technical mettle and see for yourself!
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
• Marching snare drums
• Marching tenors
• Marching bass drums (5)
Written in the late 1990s as a part of the Santa Clara Vanguard exercise packet, “Flammus” was originally included in the book Fresh Perspectives for the Modern Drumline under the title “Flammus Nondragginus.” This newly published, stand-alone version includes commentary by the composer regarding suggestions for approaching the exercise as well as some background on the exercise. A physical score is available for purchase, with individual parts available for download from the Tapspace website through a provided code.
The purpose of this exercise was to assist in the development of a variety of flam rudiments including flam accents, flam taps, flam drags, and inverted flam drag pataflaflas. Beyond this, the exercise was meant to put these rudiments into a 4/4 groove to assist the ensemble in developing their sense of time and groove. The exercise delivers with an approachable groove that provides a framework for many of the rudiments mentioned as well as a more technically demanding “tag” at the end.
Those involved in the pageantry arts will appreciate this small look into the world of Murray Gusseck’s writing style and approach to technical exercises. Ensemble directors interested in incorporating “Flammus” into their warm-ups will appreciate the availability of individual parts they can now provide their ensemble.
—Brian Nozny
Percussive Notes
Vol. 59, No. 1, February 2021
