Valor Day by Tom
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TSPCE24-029
Valor Day is observed at Vandegrift High School every April in honor of the life and legacy of Lieutenant Matthew Vandegrift, the school’s namesake. A native of Steiner Ranch,Texas, and a 1999 graduate of Leander High School, Lt. Vandegrift was killed in Iraq in 2008 while serving in the United States Marines 5th Battalion.
Central to the inspiration for this piece is the significance of the number 5 and the phrase “Second to None,” both borrowed from Matthew’s Battalion patch which features five stars along with the phrase “Second to None” inscribed in Latin. Coincidently, Vandegrift High School was the fifth high school opened in Leander ISD, and it also adopted “Second to None” as the school motto.
Featuring a foundation in rudimental snare drum, the intervallic relationship of a second, and the reliance on rhythmic groupings of five, Valor Day blends militaristic and modern percussive influences in celebration of Vandegrift High School’s history and commemoration of Lt. Vandegrift’s sacrifice.
A couple of notes on performance and balance:
• As a general rule, balance dynamics down to the piano and vibraphone (when applicable).
• Players 4 and 5 should fortify and support the snare voices (players 1 and 2), producing a balanced blend of all four players. Try not to let the snare voices overpower the rest of the ensemble.
—Tom Rarick
Valor Day requires 7 players with the following instrumentation:
Player 1 — piccolo snare drum, concert snare drum
Player 2 — concert snare drum, field drum (rope-tension snare drum preferred)
Player 3 — 29” timpano, bongos, 2 congas
Player 4 — 4 toms, small concert bass drum (laid flat), 2 woodblocks (medium and high)
Player 5 — hand cymbals, suspended cymbal, 2 cymbal stacks (high and low), splash cymbal, sizzle cymbal, ride cymbal, China cymbal, hi-hatl
Player 6 — vibraphone, crotales (2 octaves), suspended cymbal
Player 7 — piano
Level: Advanced
Approx. playing time: 4'45"
P a y e r 1
p c c o o s n a r e d r u m
c o n c e r t s n a r e d r u m
P l a y e r 2
c o n c e r t s n a r e d r u m ( s h a r e w / P 1 )
f e d d r u m P l a y e r 3
2 9 " t m p a n o
b o n g o s 2 c o n g a s
P l a y e r 4
4 t o m s , b a s s d r u m
2 w o o d b o c k s ( m e d i u m a n d h g h )
P a y e r 5
h a n d c y m s , s u s p e n d e d c y m
2 c y m b a s t a c k s ( h g h / o w )
s p l a s h c y m s z z e c y m r d e c y m , C h n a c y m h - h a t
P l a y e r 6
v b r a p h o n e c r o t a e s ( 2 o c t a v e s )
s u s p e n d e d c y m b a
P l a y e r 7 p a n
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