Includes score. Three scores needed for performance.
Print size: Letter (8.5 x 11")
Review from Percussive Notes (2021):
Sieben Stücke
Michael W. Ranta
“Sieben Stücke” is a seven-movement work written for three percussionists. Each of the pieces is handwritten in score form, with all indications in German. At first glance, the required instrumentation is staggering! Commonly found keyboard and auxiliary instruments are required, as well as a variety of gongs and cymbals, wooden wind chimes, pod rattles, water tam tam, flexatone, and numerous others. An array of mallets and beaters is needed, as well as a threaded metal rod for scraping against a gong.
There is a nice balance of traditional and indeterminate notation. For example, the sixth movement indicates that each line should be approximately 15 seconds in length if no meter is present; the seventh movement asks players to perform gestures at differing tempi and repeat as needed. Some movements are quite rhythmically complex and require cohesion amongst all three performers, whereas others consist of steady eighth notes with varying accent patterns.
Overall, “Sieben Stücke” is a serious undertaking. The music itself is not terribly demanding, but the lack of parts and strict use of German make it tedious to prepare. Nonetheless, the instrumentation presents an interesting array of colors and would be well suited for a college or professional ensemble. —Danielle Moreau
