PROGRAM & PERFORMANCE NOTES

Arrhythmia is a fun, energetic, “drummy” quartet for middle school and high school level percussionists. Hocket melodies are created throughout the piece by combining the separate drum parts, while a steady eighth-note rim pattern helps the musicians keep their place. This piece was largely inspired by split marching bass drum parts and was originally written with those instruments in mind, then adapted as a concert piece for four toms.

This piece leaves a lot of room for the performers to get creative with visuals. Performers are encouraged to coordinate an exciting visual during the four-measure section where players switch drums (rehearsal D–E). Other options might include a stick drop after the last note of the piece or body movements to accompany crescrendos or decrescendos. Don’t be afraid to experiment and be creative! This piece may be adapted for eight players by doubling each part and having the two lines of four drums face each other.

Walker Martz

Players And Instrumentation

Arrhythmia requires 4 players with the following instrumentation:

Player 1 — high tom

Player 2 — med-high tom

Player 3 — med-low tom

Player 4 — low tom