ZACH PARIS CASCADE
Cascade by Zach Paris © 2024 Tapspace Publications, LLC (ASCAP). All rights reserved.
tapspace.com
Notice of Liability: Any duplication, adaptation, or arrangement of this composition requires the written consent of the copyright owner. No part of this composition may be photocopied or reproduced in any way without permission. Unauthorized uses are an infringement of the U.S. Copyright Act and are punishable by law.
TSPCE24-030
PROGRAM NOTES
Cascade is a contemporary work for percussion quintet that fuses elements of both Japanese Taiko drumming and atonal improvisation. The piece was written for the Yellowstone Summer Music Camp hosted at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, and its title is derived from the cascading waterfalls common to the Yellowstone region. The power of these turbulent waterfalls is often contrasted by tranquility both above the cascade and below. This piece showcases these waterfall characteristics through powerful and tranquil possibilities of percussion instruments. Much like water, the aleatoric improvisation sections allow each rendition of this piece to have its own unique character.
PERFORMANCE NOTES
• The piece begins with an ethereal improvisation section with each additional performer entering on cue. The key to the improvisation sections is to remain fairly light and sparse. The suspended cymbal roll swells should be communicated between the two players; each player begins their next roll after the previous roll has concluded.
• Measures 6–8 and 59–64: The decrescendo eighth notes (cascades) found throughout these sections should feature one hand remaining at the lower established volume and the other hand providing the decrescendo. However, both hands may be used for the effect if necessary.
• Measures 17, 23, 32, and 55–56: The dynamics apply to both hands in these measures.
• For added visual effect, the performers should provide large floats between notes in their accent hand during the primary theme (shown below).
• Though there is a set tempo for the glockenspiel improvisation at measure 33, the improvisation should be out of time as in the opening of the piece. The tempo only applies to the remaining accompaniment parts.
PLAYERS AND INSTRUMENTATION
Cascade requires 5 players with the following instrumentation:
Player 1 — glockenspiel, bongos
Player 2 — 2 triangles, 2 congas
Player 3 — small suspended cymbal, 2 small toms (1 & 2)*
Player 4 — large suspended cymbal, 2 large toms (3 & 4)*
Player 5 — tam-tam, concert bass drum
*Players 3 and 4 should use four graduated toms, with P3 using the higher two and P4 using the lower two.
SUGGESTED SETUP
