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Sound Off! by Chris Roode is comprised of three short movements for percussion ensemble, each written in a militaristic style. The three movements are entitled Attention!, Sound Off!, and Salute! and each have their own unique musical qualities. In true militaristic form, performers are asked to shout vocal commands throughout the movements, making this an engaging piece for the performers and audience. To make the piece more accessible to more ensembles, the mallet percussion parts can be performed on Orff mallet instruments or on standard mallet percussion instruments.
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
Standard Mallet Instruments version
• Glockenspiel
• 3 standard mallet instruments
• Snare drum*
• Pair of crash cymbals*
• Concert bass drum*
Orff Mallet Instruments version
• Glockenspiel
• Soprano mallet instrument
• Alto mallet instrument
• Bass mallet instrument
• Snare drum*
• Pair of crash cymbals*
• Concert bass drum*
*If desired, one talented student may perform all three percussion parts on a standard drum kit using their hands on the snare drum and their feet on the kick drum and hi-hat.
“Sound Off!” is a three-movement work that requires a minimum of seven players at comparable ability levels but may be expanded by doubling, tripling, or quadrupling any parts to fit the size of the group. At approximately seven minutes in length, it is most suitable for younger middle school students.
Chirs Roode includes detailed performance notes and instrument recommendations based on ensemble size. For example, he states that marimbas and vibraphones work best as the bass and alto voices, and smaller battery instruments blend better with an Orff ensemble. This is particularly beneficial for instructors who need more assistance in selecting appropriate equipment. Additionally, while the piece consists of three movements, it is possible to perform each as if it were a stand-alone work.
The first movement, “Attention!,” begins and ends with an ensemble vocalization that adds a theatrical element to the composition. The battery parts are traditional in nature, exploring simple rudimental figures and syncopated eighth-note lines. Each of the mallet parts is manageable, consisting primarily of quarter-note and eighth-note figures that are in unison or doubled by other players. Though arguably the easiest movement in the piece, there are plenty of dynamic changes to keep everyone engaged.
The second and third movements, “Sound Off!” and “Salute!,” explore similar dynamic and rhythmic concepts but include more syncopations, exposed melodic lines, hand-to-hand independence, and increasingly complex rudimental figures. I particularly enjoyed the meter change from 4/4 to 6/8 and back in movement three, which provides students a musical opportunity to study this concept.
“Sound Off!” comes with an accompanying CD that includes a pdf file of each part and an audio recording to help expedite rehearsal preparation. The product’s quality and educational value make it a recommended addition to a middle school library.
—Danielle Moreau
Percussive Notes
Vol. 58, No. 1, February 2020
Sound Off! by Chris Roode is comprised of three short movements for percussion ensemble, each written in a militaristic style. The three movements are entitled Attention!, Sound Off!, and Salute! and each have their own unique musical qualities. In true militaristic form, performers are asked to shout vocal commands throughout the movements, making this an engaging piece for the performers and audience. To make the piece more accessible to more ensembles, the mallet percussion parts can be performed on Orff mallet instruments or on standard mallet percussion instruments.
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
Standard Mallet Instruments version
• Glockenspiel
• 3 standard mallet instruments
• Snare drum*
• Pair of crash cymbals*
• Concert bass drum*
Orff Mallet Instruments version
• Glockenspiel
• Soprano mallet instrument
• Alto mallet instrument
• Bass mallet instrument
• Snare drum*
• Pair of crash cymbals*
• Concert bass drum*
*If desired, one talented student may perform all three percussion parts on a standard drum kit using their hands on the snare drum and their feet on the kick drum and hi-hat.
“Sound Off!” is a three-movement work that requires a minimum of seven players at comparable ability levels but may be expanded by doubling, tripling, or quadrupling any parts to fit the size of the group. At approximately seven minutes in length, it is most suitable for younger middle school students.
Chirs Roode includes detailed performance notes and instrument recommendations based on ensemble size. For example, he states that marimbas and vibraphones work best as the bass and alto voices, and smaller battery instruments blend better with an Orff ensemble. This is particularly beneficial for instructors who need more assistance in selecting appropriate equipment. Additionally, while the piece consists of three movements, it is possible to perform each as if it were a stand-alone work.
The first movement, “Attention!,” begins and ends with an ensemble vocalization that adds a theatrical element to the composition. The battery parts are traditional in nature, exploring simple rudimental figures and syncopated eighth-note lines. Each of the mallet parts is manageable, consisting primarily of quarter-note and eighth-note figures that are in unison or doubled by other players. Though arguably the easiest movement in the piece, there are plenty of dynamic changes to keep everyone engaged.
The second and third movements, “Sound Off!” and “Salute!,” explore similar dynamic and rhythmic concepts but include more syncopations, exposed melodic lines, hand-to-hand independence, and increasingly complex rudimental figures. I particularly enjoyed the meter change from 4/4 to 6/8 and back in movement three, which provides students a musical opportunity to study this concept.
“Sound Off!” comes with an accompanying CD that includes a pdf file of each part and an audio recording to help expedite rehearsal preparation. The product’s quality and educational value make it a recommended addition to a middle school library.
—Danielle Moreau
Percussive Notes
Vol. 58, No. 1, February 2020
