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Upbeat Suite is an arrangement for percussion quartet of three orchestral excerpts, by three different composers, that share common rhythmic elements of upbeat, or 2-beat, feels: Dance of the Little Swans by Tchaikovsky; Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks by Mussorgsky; and, from Carmen, Danse Boheme by Bizet. Their cheerful nature dictates a light, bouncy style and is enhanced by the use of grace notes and appoggiaturas. A frequent arranger of classical themes, Brian Slawson is adept at capturing the character of the original while still writing idiomatically, and in this case accessibly, for small mallet quartet. This is a rare marriage that will have you thinking Suite thoughts of your developing ensemble.
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
I am a Brian Slawson fan! His mallet writing and arranging is not only intelligent and idiomatically driven, but filled with maturity that comes from truly understanding not only the limitations, but also the sonic potential of percussion instruments. This collection of arrangements for mallet quartet is no exception.
Pulled together by their common “upbeat” (two-beat) feel, this gathering of cheerful and playful orchestral excerpts includes Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Little Swans” from Swan Lake, Mussorgky’s “Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks” from Pictures At An Exhibition, and Bizet’s “Danse Boheme” from Carmen. Even though all mallet parts can be performed with two mallets, percussionists should approach these works realizing they are full of the musical cleverness and rhythmic complexities expected from these three master composers. Ranging from 1 to 2½ minutes each, all three arrangements are melodically driven by the xylophone and bells, with marimba and vibraphone supplying most of the harmonic support. I can easily see any one (or all three) of these arrangements programmed on a percussion ensemble concert to showcase a variety of repertoire, as well as student and audience exposure to “classic” music on percussion instruments.
—Joshua D. Smith
Percussive Notes
Vol. 52, No. 2, March 2014
Upbeat Suite is an arrangement for percussion quartet of three orchestral excerpts, by three different composers, that share common rhythmic elements of upbeat, or 2-beat, feels: Dance of the Little Swans by Tchaikovsky; Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks by Mussorgsky; and, from Carmen, Danse Boheme by Bizet. Their cheerful nature dictates a light, bouncy style and is enhanced by the use of grace notes and appoggiaturas. A frequent arranger of classical themes, Brian Slawson is adept at capturing the character of the original while still writing idiomatically, and in this case accessibly, for small mallet quartet. This is a rare marriage that will have you thinking Suite thoughts of your developing ensemble.
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
I am a Brian Slawson fan! His mallet writing and arranging is not only intelligent and idiomatically driven, but filled with maturity that comes from truly understanding not only the limitations, but also the sonic potential of percussion instruments. This collection of arrangements for mallet quartet is no exception.
Pulled together by their common “upbeat” (two-beat) feel, this gathering of cheerful and playful orchestral excerpts includes Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Little Swans” from Swan Lake, Mussorgky’s “Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks” from Pictures At An Exhibition, and Bizet’s “Danse Boheme” from Carmen. Even though all mallet parts can be performed with two mallets, percussionists should approach these works realizing they are full of the musical cleverness and rhythmic complexities expected from these three master composers. Ranging from 1 to 2½ minutes each, all three arrangements are melodically driven by the xylophone and bells, with marimba and vibraphone supplying most of the harmonic support. I can easily see any one (or all three) of these arrangements programmed on a percussion ensemble concert to showcase a variety of repertoire, as well as student and audience exposure to “classic” music on percussion instruments.
—Joshua D. Smith
Percussive Notes
Vol. 52, No. 2, March 2014
