Brian Slawson
Top Tank
for percussion trio
Top Tank by Brian Slawson Š 2010 Tapspace Publications LLC (ASCAP), Portland, Oregon. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Printed in USA. www.tapspace.com
Notice of Liability: Any duplication, adaptation, or arrangement of any text or composition contained herein requires the written consent of the copyright owner. No part of any composition contained herein 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.
TSPCE-40
Notes Top Tank is a rhythmic little piece in three sections. The parts comprising the intro can be thought of as elements of a 1960’s R&B groove, the timpanist being the bass player, the toms serving as abbreviated kit licks, and the woodblocks providing soft but punchy horn riffs. Although such an approach might seem a stretch, it may help to phrase the ensemble so as to imply a deep, sultry groove until the bridge in 3/4 (bar 13), building to the chorus at Letter A. The timpani now carry the tune while the toms and blocks supply a perky, playful underbelly until the metric modulation at Letter B. The trick here is to push the tempo at Letter B, while making a seamless transition. Also, the timpanist is now playing busier rhythms than the toms and blocks player so be sure to lend an ear! As the piece crescendos to a persistent conclusion, pay close attention to the accents and their complementary dialogue. Also, notice that the timpani dynamic throughout tends to be louder than its counterparts. The reason is simple - a little woodblock goes a long way!
- Brian Slawson
Instrument/Parts list Top Tank is written to be performed by three players using the following instrumentation. • • •
4 timpani 2 woodblocks or temple blocks (high and low) 2 concert toms (medium and large)
Suggested Setup
About Brian Slawson Since his scholarship studies at The Juilliard School, Brian Slawson has continued to pioneer innovative paths in percussion. Grammy-nominated as ‘Best New Classical Artist,’ Brian has appeared on NBC’s Tonight Show, Entertainment Tonight, The CBS Morning News, and NPR’s “All Things Considered.” Mr. Slawson has an extensive discography, including solo releases on the Sony/CBS and Belltone labels. His smash debut, Bach On Wood, hit Billboard’s Top 10 and remains one of the world’s premier vehicles for exposing new audiences to classical music. Brian has shared the stage with classical luminaries Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland, recorded with pop icons from Stevie Ray Vaughan to Marie Osmond, and punctuated jokes for comedians Bill Maher, Eddie Murphy, and Jerry Seinfeld. He is the voice of “Gusto the Bulldog” in Warner Bros. Music Expressions and a featured artist in McGraw-Hill’s Spotlight on Music. In addition to serving as Principal Timpanist of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Brian’s multimedia company, Slawsongs, has created award-winning custom music for feature films, television, and radio. Mr. Slawson proudly endorses Ludwig-Musser, Zildjian, Vic Firth, Remo, Grover Pro Percussion, Rhythm Tech, Alternate Mode, and Sibelius. His teachers have included Saul Goodman, Buster Bailey, Alexander Lepak, David Smith, and Drew Grouse. Legendary vibraphonist Lionel Hampton described Brian Slawson as “one of the finest percussionists to come along in many years.” Modern Drummer magazine calls Brian “a visionary, be it performer, producer, or composer.”
Level: Medium Approximate playing time: 1’40”
for Kevin, Sasha, and James
Top Tank
Brian Slawson
for percussion trio
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© 2010 Tapspace Publications, LLC (ASCAP). Please notify publisher of all performances. www.tapspace.com All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Printed in USA.
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Top Tank - Slawson
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TSPCE-40
Top Tank - Slawson
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TSPCE-40
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