HUNGARIAN
for percussion ensemble
Publisher: C. Alan Publications (2024)
Composed: 2023
Duration: 2′
Difficulty: Medium
Instrumentation (10 players): bells, xylophone, vibraphone, 4.3-octave marimba, 5.0-octave marimba, timpani (32″, 29″, 26″), crash cymbals, triangle, woodblock, tambourine, snare drum, 4 concert toms, impact drum
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Originally composed for piano solo, as the last piece in a set of 12 etudes published in 1890, Hungarian (Op. 39, No. 12) is a short and energetic work that translates perfectly to a percussion ensemble orchestration. Scored for 10 players including five keyboard percussion parts, timpani, and four players on cymbals, snare, concert toms, and accessory percussion, each note of the MacDowell piano score is retained, while the additional voices add punctuation and driving rhythmic figures befitting of the Presto tempo. All of the keyboard parts are playable with two mallets throughout and bounce between rapid scalar passages and aggressive chordal ensemble statements. The drum and non-pitched percussion voices subtly support the melodic content of the work while adding flashes of color and impactful punches to climax moments within the work. This is an ideal work for intermediate to advanced ensembles looking for a captivating overture to open or close a performance.