At the pinnacle of Danny Raymond's Elements in Time snare solo series is the MASTERING edition. This collection of three competitive solos for snare drum is for advanced players looking to showcase their abilities and then some.
This piece ships as a printed, professionally bound folio with a full-color cover.
Excelsior! (2:30 - Med-Advanced)
Inspired by New York radio show host Jean Shepherd, Excelsior! will leave you humming along with the unmistakable rhythmic melodies present throughout the piece. This solo will demand a lot of control through a myriad of hybrid flam passages and also challenges the performer with some matched-to-traditional grip changes.
The Natural (2:45 - Advanced)
The Natural is an upper-eschelon solo for a drum corps-level player. Although the piece contains a lot of rudimental meat, the march tempo and backbeat (both literal and implied) groove elements give it a listenability not often found in modern marching snare solos. Meaty+groovy = Danny Raymond at his best!
Warwick (2:30 - Advanced)
Warwick is not to be attempted by anyone without good health coverage.
The solos in this “Elements in Time” collection are written at an advanced level. They clearly reflect a drum corps style and are full of special effects, both musical and visual. A notation key is included.
“Excelsior!” is inspired by the opening them song of Jean Shepherd’s radio show on WOR in New York. It is quite fast (178 bpm) and lasts about 21?2 minutes. It makes use of five-note groupings, playing on multiple areas of the drum, and a couple of switches between matched and traditional grip. This solo is followed by “The Natural,” which is written at a slower 116 bpm. Here we encounter more complex stick- ing patterns and accents along with stick twirls and “cheezed” and “charlzed” flams.
“Warwick,” inspired by Warwick Castle in England, is the most difficult of the three. Diehard Santa Clara Vanguard fans will notice a few bars borrowed from their 1975 solo “Birds of Fire.” Filled with mixed meter and visual and musical effects, this solo will challenge the most accomplished drummer. Despite the technical complexity, it is still very playable and makes clear musical sense. This collection will be great for the advanced player looking for challenging material that will be fun to play and engaging for the audience.
—Tom Morgan
Percussive Notes
Vol. 53, No. 1, March 2015
At the pinnacle of Danny Raymond's Elements in Time snare solo series is the MASTERING edition. This collection of three competitive solos for snare drum is for advanced players looking to showcase their abilities and then some.
This piece ships as a printed, professionally bound folio with a full-color cover.
Excelsior! (2:30 - Med-Advanced)
Inspired by New York radio show host Jean Shepherd, Excelsior! will leave you humming along with the unmistakable rhythmic melodies present throughout the piece. This solo will demand a lot of control through a myriad of hybrid flam passages and also challenges the performer with some matched-to-traditional grip changes.
The Natural (2:45 - Advanced)
The Natural is an upper-eschelon solo for a drum corps-level player. Although the piece contains a lot of rudimental meat, the march tempo and backbeat (both literal and implied) groove elements give it a listenability not often found in modern marching snare solos. Meaty+groovy = Danny Raymond at his best!
Warwick (2:30 - Advanced)
Warwick is not to be attempted by anyone without good health coverage.
The solos in this “Elements in Time” collection are written at an advanced level. They clearly reflect a drum corps style and are full of special effects, both musical and visual. A notation key is included.
“Excelsior!” is inspired by the opening them song of Jean Shepherd’s radio show on WOR in New York. It is quite fast (178 bpm) and lasts about 21?2 minutes. It makes use of five-note groupings, playing on multiple areas of the drum, and a couple of switches between matched and traditional grip. This solo is followed by “The Natural,” which is written at a slower 116 bpm. Here we encounter more complex stick- ing patterns and accents along with stick twirls and “cheezed” and “charlzed” flams.
“Warwick,” inspired by Warwick Castle in England, is the most difficult of the three. Diehard Santa Clara Vanguard fans will notice a few bars borrowed from their 1975 solo “Birds of Fire.” Filled with mixed meter and visual and musical effects, this solo will challenge the most accomplished drummer. Despite the technical complexity, it is still very playable and makes clear musical sense. This collection will be great for the advanced player looking for challenging material that will be fun to play and engaging for the audience.
—Tom Morgan
Percussive Notes
Vol. 53, No. 1, March 2015