Two Pieces for Snare Drum: "Mr. Jack" and "Quiet Lightning"
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Review from Percussive Notes (2026):
“Two Pieces for Snare Drum” is a strong contribution to the solo snare drum repertoire. The first piece, “Mr. Jack,” is dedicated to Jack McKenzie. The tempo remains on the slower side for most of this piece; however, the amount of ink on the page makes up for it. Throughout, the performer is faced with a plethora of quintuplets, sextuplets, septuplets, and thirty-second notes in various combinations. Also, there are multiple implement changes. The music calls for snare sticks, brushes, and timpani sticks to be used. Any time a composer writes, “rimshot madness, go crazy,” you know you are in for a good time!
The second piece, “Quiet Lightning,” is dedicated to Al Payson. The piece follows the template of the first by utilizing various implements and playing zones on the head. However, the rhythmic structure is a bit more grounded in the beat, with less regular syncopation. “Quiet Lightning” serves as a stylistic companion to “Mr. Jack,” while offering enough fresh material to make pairing them together in performance worthwhile.
I recommend this work for university students or professionals wanting to add an exciting solo snare piece to their repertoire. Between tempo changes, implement changes, and a dynamic spectrum conducive to expressive playing, these pieces are great for engaging an audience with solo snare playing. I will be looking at these pieces the next time I put a recital program together.
—Justin Bunting
