Henry, Otto- The Sons of Martha, for four percussionists and soprano (Digital Download)

For four percussionists and soprano, includes score and parts. This setting of Kipling's poem calls for 4 players sharing the following instruments: Orchestra bells, police whistle, triangle, finger cymbals, tambourine, vibraphone, tubular chimes, maraca, wood block, bass drum, gong, suspended cymbal, snare drum. Duration: ca. 3'

Print size: Letter (8.5 x 11")

Review from Percussive Notes:

This is a newly revised version of a piece for soprano solo with percussion quartet originally written in 1970, inspired by Richard McKenna’s novel The Sons of Martha (1959). It sets the first eight lines of Rudyard Kipling’s poem by the same title as text for soprano solo. The four percussionists in this very brief (ca. 3-minute) work share an instrumentation that offers an assortment of metallic timbres contributed by orchestra bells, triangle, finger cymbals, tambourine, vibraphone, tubular chimes, tam tam and suspended cymbal, embroidered with non-metallic sounds from maracas, woodblock, bass drum and snare drum. At the end of the piece, the snare drum is used characteristically, playing a martial cadence fff (joined by bass drum and cymbals), bringing the work to an exciting close with the assistance of an ear-splitting blast on a police whistle. This piece falls into two brief sections. In the first, the soprano sets a dramatic tone interpreting Kipling’s verse, which reads, “And because she was rude to the Lord, her Guest,“ and then assumes a contrasting, contemplative mood in Henry’s setting of the conclusion of that line: “Her Sons must wait on Mary’s sons, world without end, reprive (sic) or rest.” The second section, connected to the first with a suspended cymbal roll, uses glockenspiel and vibraphone playing ostinato-like patterns that propel the work to its final measures. This glockenspiel/vibraphone duo provides a colorful harmonic scaffolding for the soprano soloist. The score, which provides colorful support of the vocal part, should present no serious difficulties for a typical college ensemble (and an adventurous soprano soloist).

-John R. Raush

 Demo: