Includes score and instructions.
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Review from Percussive Notes (2021):
Three Timpani Pieces
David Macbride
Plenty of rehearsal facilities around the world either suffer from discouraging difficulties in moving timpani through doorways or simply a lack of four complete drums in a set. Needless to say, I was excited to see a David Macbride composition written in 2001 for only three drums to help with this dilemma. “Three Timpani Pieces” is a solo for the top three drums, written in three movements for Brian Short at the Hartt School of Music.
Each movement’s title reflects an overarching theme of the piece while also indicating the stylistic differences between each part. “Blood” centers around rolls, with melodic interest created through glissandi on all drums, rhythmic interest created using figures within a roll similar to Christopher Deane’s “Prelude I,” and timbral interest fashioned through the use of various playing areas on the drums a la Elliott Carter. “Sweat” is the most intense movement, with an emphasis on quick rhythms and fast-changing, uncommon meters. “Tears” employs four mallets throughout and a reappearance of the many glissandi of the first movement.
There are some major obstacles to overcome if you are interested in tackling this three-movement solo. Some of the most glaring complications are the ranges required of each drum. Although some timpani boast an octave, most drums can settle nicely around a perfect fifth. Macbride frequently uses an extended range within the tuning requirements—for example, the 29-inch drum is expected to play both a D below the staff and a C in the middle. Another small nuisance is the printing. The first two movements are photocopied from a previous handwritten copy, making it tricky to see certain notation details.
Those issues aside, check out “Three Timpani Pieces” if you have difficulty moving a 32-inch drum through slim doors and need a full length, senior- or graduate-level timpani solo chock-full of glissandi and quick tuning changes around interesting rhythmic motifs.
—Matthew Geiger
