Mandalorian, The (Göransson)

arranged for percussion ensemble

Kirk J. Gay

Level: Medium

Duration: 3:30

Personnel: 10 players

State Lists: Texas | Florida

Release Date: 2023

Product ID : TSPCE23-002

Price: $40.00

Item #: TSPCE23-002

Formats Available:

Physical Only
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Description

The Mandalorian arranged by Kirk J. Gay is based on the main theme from the live-action Star Wars television series of the same name. The original score, written by Swedish composer Ludwig Göransson, was birthed through experimentation and improvisation. Göransson discovered the opening theme of the work by playing a bass recorder processed with digital audio effects to emulate a more “futuristic” sound. Throughout the piece, Göransson embodies the spirit of the American Western with earthy textures, ostinato drum patterns, and a nod to the famous whistle from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, while incorporating science fiction elements with various synthesizers and references to the Star Wars films.

Gay’s adaptation for percussion ensemble aims to be a close representation of the original score in its instrumentation, effects, and orchestration. The piece calls for 10 players across commonly found percussion instruments. To fully embrace the science fiction nature of the piece, Gay has incorporated a thunder sheet and waterphone for special effect moments. The Mandalorian is an entertaining and fun addition to any percussion ensemble concert.

The Mandalorian ships as a printed, professionally bound score and a set of printed parts.

Instrumentation

Glockenspiel

2 vibraphones

Chimes

2 marimbas — (1) low A, (1) 5-octave

4 timpani

Drums — small bass drum, low tom

Cymbals & Gongs — suspended cymbal, tam-tam, thunder sheet

Accessories — waterphone

Reviews

Music from the Star Wars series The Mandalorian was created by Swedish composer Ludwig Go?ransson, and is meant to convey a “futuristic” sound, while still capturing the cinematic depth of the original movie music from the 1970s and 1980s. Additionally, the character of the music hints at the music of old Western movies (think distant whistling during a shootout scene) with added layers of melodic and rhythmic ostinati. The creative simplicity of the music translates very well to percussion instruments, and is idiomatically arranged into this 3½-minute work.

While the texture of this arrangement is thick and active at times, this piece is accessible to players who have a basic understanding of steady rhythmic pulse, ensemble awareness, and phrase delivery within repetitive musical figures. All the mallet parts can be played with two mallets, and they typically have “mirrored” parts somewhere else in the ensemble, which can aid in performance clarity and confidence. Additionally, Kirk J. Gay has scored this work to target varying levels of percussion experience, where the mallet parts are best reserved for stronger players, and the glockenspiel and percussion parts are best suited for students who might be new to the percussion ensemble game.

While there is a waterphone called for in the instrumentation, it is only used in one measure, and the effect can easily be substituted with a bowed cymbal or Superball mallet on a tam tam.

With a wide array of parts that range in difficulty, coupled with a rhythmic vocabulary that is simple, yet effective, this work will appeal to students and audience members alike, whether or not they are a fan of the source material from which it originated. If you are considering this piece for your next percussion ensemble concert, rest assured: this is the way.

—Joshua D. Smith
Percussive Notes
Vol. 61, No. 3, June 2023