Sonic Kaleidoscope - for twelve percussionists (2014)

Duration: Approx. 6:30

My goal when composing Sonic Kaleidoscope was to create a piece based on small fragments of material. These basic materials include a simple three note motive and a limited set of syncopated rhythmic patterns that are developed and altered to create all elements of the piece.

When you look into a kaleidoscope, you see an intricate, complex image made up of small fragments of light reflecting off of the class lens. In a similar way, the various textures in this piece are made up of the small fragments of material previously described. When you turn this lens, the same fragments of light can create a completely different image that can be drastically different from the first. This idea is portrayed in the piece through an alternation between chaotic, syncopated, dense textures, and simple textures characterized by melodic lines, each separated by a rapid cacophony of rising and falling canonic gestures.

Full Instrumentation:

5 Marimbas (2 five octaves, 3 4.3 octaves), 3 Vibraphones, Xylophone, Chimes, Glockenspiel, Crotales (2 octaves), 4 Timpani, 5 Tom Toms, 2 Congas, Bongos (1 set of 2 drums), Djembe, Bass Drum, Claves, Log Drum (2 pitches), 2 Small Woodblocks, 4 Suspended Cymbals, China Cymbal, 2 Small Gongs, Tam Tam, 2 Cowbells, 2 Triangles