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Patrick McLaughlin’s The Canvas Series is a unique collection of snare drum solos, where the subject of each solo is a famous painter of the 20th century. In his own creative way, McLaughlin uses the snare drum as a canvas to paint a portrait of each of the eight artists and their work. For example, in No. 3: Vincent van Gogh, McLaughlin uses soft buzz rolls within a slow tempo to depict Van Gogh painting in a breezy, picturesque field on a warm spring day. In No. 8: Salvador Dalí, he uses sharp and angular rhythms with disjunct accents to depict Dalí’s surreal and strange paintings. Much like the subjects of McLaughlin’s solos, this collection is one-of-a-kind. Each solo will add a level of introspection to any recital program or individual study.
The Canvas Series ships as a fully-bound book with a beautifully designed cover, reminiscent of Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Monet’s Water Lilies.
The Canvas Series is a collection of contemporary snare drum solos inspired by some of the most celebrated artists in history. The motivation for this series came from the composer’s desire to expand his creative perspective by examining the works, characteristics, and legacies of such artists as Vincent van Gogh, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, and Jackson Pollock. Pleasing to both rudimental and orchestral players, these solos are ideal for advanced high school to undergraduate-level students.
Patrick McLaughlin provides a plethora of information throughout the book. He discusses each notational concept in great detail, including technical execution and musical interpretation of articulations, rolls, and embellishments. Each solo comes with individualized performance notes and historical context on the particular artist to assist players as they prepare the work, including several references to specific pieces. For example, the solo “Pablo Picasso” reflects the styles of his Cubist art by introducing the theme in the first six measures and altering it throughout to represent various angles of observation. The sixth solo, “Claude Monet,” requires the use of brushes to capture the blurry characteristic of his “Haystack” series. This background is one of my favorite attributes of the collection.
From an education standpoint, there are numerous musical benefits. While some solos are rhythmically difficult, others explore nuanced dynamic control and variations in roll speed. Most of the solos are no more than two pages, making them a great addition to the collegiate curriculum as etudes or jury material. Furthermore, I am delighted this series is written for solo snare drum, as it strongly encourages players to focus on the instrument’s timbre through the lens of renowned artists’ use of color. A worthwhile investment, I recommend students and instructors add this series to their snare drum library.
—Danielle Moreau
Percussive Notes
Vol. 57, No. 3, July 2019
Patrick McLaughlin’s The Canvas Series is a unique collection of snare drum solos, where the subject of each solo is a famous painter of the 20th century. In his own creative way, McLaughlin uses the snare drum as a canvas to paint a portrait of each of the eight artists and their work. For example, in No. 3: Vincent van Gogh, McLaughlin uses soft buzz rolls within a slow tempo to depict Van Gogh painting in a breezy, picturesque field on a warm spring day. In No. 8: Salvador Dalí, he uses sharp and angular rhythms with disjunct accents to depict Dalí’s surreal and strange paintings. Much like the subjects of McLaughlin’s solos, this collection is one-of-a-kind. Each solo will add a level of introspection to any recital program or individual study.
The Canvas Series ships as a fully-bound book with a beautifully designed cover, reminiscent of Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Monet’s Water Lilies.
The Canvas Series is a collection of contemporary snare drum solos inspired by some of the most celebrated artists in history. The motivation for this series came from the composer’s desire to expand his creative perspective by examining the works, characteristics, and legacies of such artists as Vincent van Gogh, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, and Jackson Pollock. Pleasing to both rudimental and orchestral players, these solos are ideal for advanced high school to undergraduate-level students.
Patrick McLaughlin provides a plethora of information throughout the book. He discusses each notational concept in great detail, including technical execution and musical interpretation of articulations, rolls, and embellishments. Each solo comes with individualized performance notes and historical context on the particular artist to assist players as they prepare the work, including several references to specific pieces. For example, the solo “Pablo Picasso” reflects the styles of his Cubist art by introducing the theme in the first six measures and altering it throughout to represent various angles of observation. The sixth solo, “Claude Monet,” requires the use of brushes to capture the blurry characteristic of his “Haystack” series. This background is one of my favorite attributes of the collection.
From an education standpoint, there are numerous musical benefits. While some solos are rhythmically difficult, others explore nuanced dynamic control and variations in roll speed. Most of the solos are no more than two pages, making them a great addition to the collegiate curriculum as etudes or jury material. Furthermore, I am delighted this series is written for solo snare drum, as it strongly encourages players to focus on the instrument’s timbre through the lens of renowned artists’ use of color. A worthwhile investment, I recommend students and instructors add this series to their snare drum library.
—Danielle Moreau
Percussive Notes
Vol. 57, No. 3, July 2019
