Repair in Progress

“Repair in Progress” is an engaging and energetic work filled with interesting textures and rhythmic gestures, all within an ensemble setting that does not require an extreme amount of equipment or players. As the composer states, the work was “inspired by the natural rhythmic nature and groove that can be heard from a construction site.” These inspirations can be seen in some of the textures used, such as brake drums and numerous tom-toms. While the nature of the piece is very groove-oriented, Kyle H. Peters throws a few interesting tuplets in at times, creating interesting polyrhythmic moments that become a connecting thread throughout the piece.

Performers will be tasked with a few challenges throughout the work. All players will need a solid sense of time, as the piece navigates through a number of tempo changes and metric modulations. Players will also need to push through moments when not all rhythms lay within the same rhythmic grid due to some of the polyrhythmic activity. Finally, the piece has moments throughout where rhythms are hocketed between players or gestures are passed from one performer to another, making performers’ listening ability and musical awareness paramount.

“Repair in Progress” is the perfect piece for an advanced high school or undergraduate percussion ensemble looking for a dynamically varied and rhythmically driving piece that will resonate with performers and audiences. With the many layers of variety presented in it, this piece would work well in a number of settings, from solo and ensemble festivals to recitals and percussion ensemble concerts.

—Brian Nozny
Percussive Notes
Vol. 60, No. 5, October 2022