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Kingdom Five Departed a “Rhythm Poem” for Percussion Ensemble

Kingdom Five Departed a “Rhythm Poem” for Percussion Ensemble

Kingdom Five Departed A “Rhythm Poem” for

By Dr. Michael Varner

This composition is a “Rhythm Poem” similar to the Orchestral “Tone Poems” of the Romantic Era. The Program Notes should be made available for the audience and performers to best associate the individually titled sections. Although the work technically has “Seven Movements” it is performed without breaks. Kingdom Five Departed is an ensemble for nine percussionists featuring and Accessories only. The semi-Classical approach to the instruments encourages the performers to perfect their Orchestral style approach. Good Luck!

Michael Varner Instrumentation: Player 1 2 bongos, 2 , 4 Japanese Temple Player 2 Snare 1, 4 Metal Pipes Player 3 2, , 4 Brake , Lion’s Roar, SlapStick Player 4 4 High Toms, Muted Player 5 4 Low Toms, Sleigh Player 6 4 , 1 Brake Drum (Shared), Triangle, inverted on 29” Timpano Player 7 1, , High GongSAMPLE Player 8 Bass Drum 2, 2, Low Tam-Tam Player 9 Crash (hand-plates), 2 Suspended Cymbals (high and low), Bow

Duration: 5:10 Performance Instructions

Gong/Tam-Tam part: Hold Triangle Beater in one hand and Beater in the other. Strike the Gong, and apply the triangle beater lightly to the Gong face on the Downward stemmed notes. The effect should be a “Sizzle” Synthetic Sound lasting until the next strike.

Timpani: Cymbal Inverted on head. Carefully choose a thin Cymbal, invert it on the center of the Timpano. Using Yarn Mallets roll on the edge of the cymbal plate and slowly Glissando the Timpano Pedal up and down.

Timpani: Bowl: Using the Felt end of the Timpani mallets lightly strike the Bowl of the 4 drums.

Timpani “Feature” in Creatures of Darkness:” This should be very prominent compared to the Texture surrounding it. The + notes are to be played Center, the o notes are regular beating spot. Pitches are to be carefully observed and notice whether the Glissandi are to be struck or rolled. This feature should use a more dense/articulate mallet.

Membranophones in “Creatures of Darkness” The X head notes are to be played with one hand while dampening the head with the other. Regular head notes are played open and slightly fuller.

Bass Drum 2 in “Pursuit:” Mute the head slightly for clarity on the triplet rhythm.

“Final Challenge: Combat” This un-metered section should have each player enter by their numbered cues. The Notated pattern should be repeated multiple times until all players have entered. An increase in speed and volume should occur. The desired effect is Heterophonic with each instrument maintaining its own personality and also somewhat Chaotic. On Cue all players change to the roll.

Cymbal: The Performer should hold the bow SAMPLEin one hand and Triangle beater in the other performing the “metal Beater” parts on the dome of the cymbal.

Tom Parts: All 8 drums of the High and low toms should be graduated from 1 through 8.

Kingdom Five Departed A Rhythm Poem Dr. Michael Varner Gates of Kingdom Five Vivace 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Bongos > > > 2 Conga 3 . ˙. ˙. ˙. 2 ˙ . 4 Temple Gongs ÷ 4 . 4 . ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ æ æ æ æ sub Cresc. Molto ƒ p Snare Drum 1 3 2 > > > 4 Metal Pipes ÷ 4 . ˙. ˙. ˙. 4 ˙ . œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ æ æ æ æ sub3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 p Cresc. Molto Snare Timbales Snare/Timbales 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Wood Block 4 Brake Drums 3 . ˙. ˙. ˙. 2 ˙ . Lions Roar ÷ 4 . 4 . ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ SlapStick æ æ æ æ œsubœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œCresc.œ œ Moltoœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

p 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 High Toms, 3 . j j œ 2 œ œ . > > > > > > Muted Cowbell ÷ 4 . Ó ‰ œ ˙ ‰ œ ˙ ‰ J 4 œ œ . ∑ ∑ ∑ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ sub Cresc. Molto 3 3 3 p 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 Low Toms, Sleigh Bells 3 j j œ 2 œ œ ÷ 4 . Ó ‰ œ ˙ ‰ œ ˙ ‰ J 4 œ œ . ∑ ∑ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ sub Cresc. Molto p 4 Timpani, ? 3 œ 2 œ œ 1 Brake Drum 4 . Ó ‰ j ‰ j ‰ 4 . ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ Triangle, œ ˙ œ ˙ J œ œ ˙æ ˙æ ˙æ Cym, inverted 29"Timp. Cresc. Molto 3 Bass Drum 1, Castanets, ÷ 3 . Ó ‰ j ‰ j Œ 2 ‰ j‰ j. ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ High gong 4 œ ˙ œ ˙ 4 œ œ œ œ œ Bass Drum 2, 3 j j 2 j j Tambourine 2, ÷ 4 . Ó ‰ œ ˙ ‰ œ ˙ Œ 4 ‰ œ ‰ œ . ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ Low Tam-Tam SAMPLE Crash Cymbals, 3 2 2 Suspended Cymbals, ÷ 4 . Ó ‰ œ ˙ ‰ œ ˙ ‰ œ 4 œ ‰ œ ‰ . ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ Bow 1 J J J J J

Michael Varner 2005 2 Kingdom Five Departed

Mystic's Bacchanale Allegro 3 3 3 B/C > > ÷ ∑ ∑ c œ ‰ Œ Œ œ œ Œ Ó Œ Ó 5 ∑ ∑ 4 ∑ c ∑ œ œ œ œ œ œ J æ œ œ œ 8 8 ßp SD1 œ œ œ >œ œ œ œ œ œ >œ œœœœ 5 4 …>œ …>œ ÷ ∑ ∑ c Œ Ó ∑ 3 Œ Ó ∑ ∑ ‰ ‰ c ∑ 3 3 8 8 J J Woodß Blockp ƒ SD 2 >œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ >œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ÷ ∑ ∑ ∑ c ‘ 85 ∑ ∑ 48 ∑ c

3 3 3 ßp 3 5 ßp 5 HT > > > > œ œ œ œ ÷ ∑ ∑ c œ ‰ Œ Ó ‰ œ œ ‰ Ó Ó ‰ œ œ 85 ∑ ∑ 48 ∑ c Œ œœ‰ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ J œ œ 3 œ 3 3 ßp LT >œ œœœœœœœœ 5 4 ÷ œ œ œ œ œ œ ∑ ∑ c J ‰ Œ Ó Ó ∑ 8 ∑ ∑ 8 ∑ c ∑ ßp triangle Timp. > ? ∑ ∑ c œ ‰ Œ Ó ∑ ∑ ÷ 5 œ œ. œ œ. 4 œ ‰ œ ‰ c ∑ ˙æ J 8 æ æ æ æ 8 J J ß ƒ 3 to Castanets BD 1 >j 5 œ œ œ œ œ œ 4 ÷ œ œ œ ∑ ∑ c œ ‰ Œ Ó ∑ ∑ 8 œ Œ ‰ œ Œ ‰ 8 ∑ c ∑ ßp ƒ Tambourine BD 2 > > > œ ‰ Œ Ó 5 Œ œ. Œ œ. 4 œ ‰ œ ÷ œ œ œ œ ∑ ∑ c J ∑ ∑ 8 æ æ 8 ‰ J J c ∑ ßp SAMPLEƒ > Cym. j 5 4 ÷ ∑ Susp.∑ cym æ c ‰ Œ Ó ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ c ∑ 13 ˙ œ 8 8 ßp

Michael Varner 2005 3 Kingdom Five Departed

> > > B/C ÷ œ œ œ Ó Ó œ œ Œ 5 ∑ ∑ 4 ∑ 5 œ œ œ ∑ ∑ 4 ∑ 5 œœœ œœ œœœ œ œ æ 8 8 8 œ œ 8 8 5 rimp π > SD1 æ ‹ ‹ ‹ ‹ ÷ Ó ˙ ∑ 5 ∑ ∑ 4…œ ‰…œ ‰ 5 œ œ. œ œ. œ œ. 4 3 Œ 5 ∑ 8 8 J J 8 æ æ æ 8 8 ƒ p Snare rim SD 2 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ‹ ‹ ‹ ‹ ÷ 5 ∑ ∑ 4 ∑ 5 œ œ. œ œ. œ œ. 4 Œ 3 5 ∑ ‘ 8 8 8 æ æ æ 8 8 p HT >œ 5 4 5 >œ œ 4 5 œœ œ œ œ ÷ ∑ Œ œœ œ Ó 8 ∑ ∑ 8 ∑ 8 ∑ œ œ œ ∑ 8 ∑ 8 œ œ œ 3 3 π LT œ 5 4 5 >œ œ œ 4 5 ÷ Ó Œ ‰ œ œ œæ ˙æ œ œ œ 8 ∑ ∑ 8 ∑ 8 ∑ ∑ œ œ 8 ∑ 8 œ œ œ œ œ place cym on timp π Timp. 5 œ œ. œ œ. 4 œ œ 5 4 5 ÷ ∑ ∑ 8 æ æ æ æ 8 J ‰ J ‰ 8 ∑ ∑ ∑ 8 ∑ 8 ∑

ƒ to Bass Drum BD 1 5 œ œ œ œ œ œ 4 5 4 j j 5 ÷ ∑ ∑ 8 œ Œ. œ Œ. 8 ∑ 8 ∑ ∑ ∑ 8 ‰ œ ‰ œ 8 ∑ ƒ p BD 2 5 œ. œ. 4 >œ >œ 5 4 5 ÷ ∑ ∑ 8 Œ æ Œ æ 8 ‰ J ‰ J 8 ∑ ∑ ∑ 8 ∑ 8 ∑ ƒ SAMPLE"ting" (Edgetap) Reg. Cym. 5 4 5 œ œ. œ œ. œ œ. 4 5 ÷ ∑ ∑ 8 ∑ ∑ 8 ∑ 8 8 œ ‰ œ ‰ 8 ∑ 23 J J p

Michael Varner 2005 4 Kingdom Five Departed

3 Senza Rit

B/C > ÷ 2 ∑ ∑ c œ ‰ Œ œ Œ œ 5 œ œ œ. ∑ c ‘ ‘ 4 J æ œ œæ ˙æ ˙æ ˙æ 8 œ œ œæ œæ. œæ œæ. & ß p p > SD1 ÷ ∑ ∑ 2 ∑ ∑ c œ œ œ œ ‰ Œ Ó ∑ ∑ 5 œ œ. œ œ. œ œ. œœœ Œ ‰ c 4 J 8 æ æ æ æ æ æ Woodß Block p SD 2 >œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ÷ ∑ ∑ 42 ∑ ∑ c ‘ 85 ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ c

ß p 3 HT > ÷ 2 ∑ ∑ c œ ‰ Ó Ó …œ œ ∑ 5 œ œ. œ œ œ. ∑ c ‘ ‘ 4 J œœ œ œ œ œ 8 æ æ œ œ œæ œæ. ß p p p LT > j > > ÷ 2 ∑ ∑ c œ ‰ Œ Œ ‰ Œ Ó œ œ œ Ó 5 œ œ. œ œ. œ œ œ. ∑ c ‘ ‘ 4 J œæ œ œ œ 8 æ æ æ æ œ œ 5 ß> p p p Timp. ^ ÷ ∑ ∑ ? 2 c œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ 5 œæ œæ œæ œæ œæ œæ ∑ c 4 ˙æ ˙æ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ‘ 8 . . . ß p p Í 3 3 BD 1 2 >j 5 ÷ ∑ ∑ 4 ∑ œ œ œ œ œ œ c œ ‰ Œ Ó ∑ ∑ 8 ∑ ∑ ∑ ‰ ‰ œ œ œ c 3 3 . . . ß p BD 2 > > 2 œ ‰ Œ Ó œ œ œ œ œ œ 5 œ Œ. ÷ ∑ ∑ 4 ∑ ∑ c J SAMPLE∑ Ó 8 ∑ ∑ ∑ c ß p Frottez (plate roll) Cym. > ÷ ∑ ∑ 42 ∑ ∑ c œ ‰ Œ Ó ∑ ∑ 85 æ æ æ æ æ æ Œ ‰ c 33 J œ œ. œ œ. œ œ. œ ß p

Michael Varner 2005 5 Kingdom Five Departed

Enter the Underworld: Caverns of Ice Moderato temple gongs

B/C c ∑ ∑ æ wæ wæ 3 ˙æ. c wæ ∑ ∑ ∑ & w w w 4 ˙. w ∑ Soft Mallets metal beater To 4 metal pipes p SD1 ÷ c ∑ ∑ æ wæ ∑ 3 ∑ c ∑ œ œ œ œ. œ œŒ. œ œ œ œ Œ w w 4 œ. œ œ œœ œ œ œ œ. œ p Soft Mallets F To 4 brake drums SD 2 ÷ c ∑ ∑ æ wæ ∑ 3 ∑ c ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ w w 4 p to low Cowbell, Yarn mallets Soft Mallets HT . . . . ÷ c ∑ ∑ w w w 43 ˙. c œ œœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœœ œ œ œ œ ‘ ‘ ‘ to Sleigh Bells æ æ æ æ æ p f F LT ÷ c ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ 43 ∑ c ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ cymbal inverted on head Timp. ? c ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ 3 c ˙ ÷ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ˙æ æ ˙æ æ ˙æ æ ˙æ æ ˙æ æ 4 ˙æ. ˙æ æ to HighP Gong ˙ ˙ BD 1 œ. œ. œ. Œ œ. œ. œ. Œ 3 œ. œ. œ. Œ œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. œ. Œ œ. œ. œ. Œ ∑ w ∑ w ÷ c ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ 4 c apply Triangle beater to gong, see performance notes To low Tam 3 3 3 3 3 3 P F BD 2 ˙ ˙ ÷ c ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ œ œ Œ œ œ Œ 3 œ œ Œ œ œ c œœ Œ œ œ Œ w ∑ w ∑ . . . . 4 ...... apply Triangle beater to Tam, see performance notes to 2 susp. Cym P SAMPLE F Cym. ÷ c ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑ 3 ∑ c ∑ 44 4 Violinw Bow w w w F

Michael Varner 2005 Dr. Michael Varner, Percussionist and Educator

Dr. Michael Varner has been Director of Percussion at the University of Texas at Arlington for the past 35 years. He holds a Bachelor of Education from Bowling Green State University, a Master’s in Performance from The University of Michigan, and a Doctorate in Performance from The University of North Texas. Varner released his latest CD in 2014 featuring his own compositions.

With a long history as an educator and clinician, he has been invited to give presentations throughout the United States, Japan and Europe focusing on developing musical expression. In recent past years he has presented by invitation at the European Music Educators Convention held in Frankfurt, Germany, and Music Educators National Conventions as well as State Music Education Conventions for Connecticut, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Kansas, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Minnesota

He draws from 40 years experience as a performer presenting repertoire from every musical style including Classical, Contemporary, Jazz, and World beat. He brings to each style of music an unequalled sensitivity and exuberance. Doctor Varner recently presented a series of lecture/recital tours throughout Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Dr. Varner's performances included presentations on Japanese compositions, and a demonstration of the development of solo marimba literature in the late 20th century. Excerpts from Dr. Varner's tour performances can be viewed and listened to by podcast at the Vic Firth Website.

He has performed chamber music and studio work in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area including appearances with the Fort Worth Symphony . During his time in Michigan he was principal percussionist with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and Principal Timpanist with the Kalamazoo Chamber Orchestra.

Dr. Varner has been a member of the UTArlington Honors college faculty since 1996. As the only music faculty member to be an honors college professor he was chosen as honor faculty member of the year for teaching excellence in 2004, the first year the Honors College named a recipient.

He continues to be active nationally in the field of adjudicating and presenting clinics. Under his guidance the UT Arlington drum line has been nationally recognized performing at numerous marching exhibitions including the 1982, 1988, 1993 and 2000, 2003, and 2008 Percussive Arts Societies International competitions. He has worked with renowned drum and corps, including the DCI champion Chicago Cavaliers and the Toledo Glassmen.

Dr. Varner continues his interest in composition by acceptingSAMPLE frequent commission from university and high schools across the United States. He publishes many of his own compositions and has also released works through Southern Music, Studio Four, and Permus Publications.

Varner’s interest in world music led to a sabbatical in Nigeria and “Study-Abroad” classes to Ghana. His article “Skin That Speaks” was published in the 2013 Percussive Notes Journal. In 2009 he received a Faculty Development Leave Grant to accept an invitation from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria to work with their faculty and students.

He maintains an Artist relationship with Heads and World Instruments, Vic Firth, Yamaha, and . http://www.uta.edu/faculty/mulberry/acover Michael Varner Music Ensemble

Imagined diVersions Contemporary Quartet features 3 families of percussion instruments: membranes (bongos, snare drum, toms, bass drum), metals (suspended cymbals, , hi-hat), and woods (, woodblocks, temple blocks, log drums). A wide range of colors and textures based around the Rondo form using as many variants on “Seven” as possible. Each performer plays the tambourine giving lots of opportunity for various Tambourine technical work. (TEXAS UIL LIST, CLASS 1 $45.00 Kingdom Five Departed “A rhythm Poem” for 9 Percussionists. A fantasy tale written in Percussion sounds, featuring only Membranophones and Accessories in a Semi-classical vein (TEXAS UIL LIST, CLASS 1) $45.00 Arabian Sketches A percussion ensemble for eight players based on dances and rhythms from the Mid-east. The composition for western percussion instruments features the "Doumbek" which is a goblet shaped hand drum. Mid-eastern "Zil" and "Riq" can be substituted for the Finger cymbals and tambourine if desired for a more authentic effect. "Arabian Sketches" captures the "aura" of the fabled Mid-east described in novels and legends. Grade 5 8 players $45.00 Tala Experience the unique aspects of Classical Indian music! Based on a rhythmic pattern of twelve beats divided into groupings of 5 and 7 subdivided into 2-3-2-2-3. Written for strictly western instruments, Challenges the ensemble to rhythmic precision and ensemble awareness offering a small taste of the relentless energy of Indian music! Grade 5 7 players (TEXAS UIL LIST, CLASS 1) $45.00 Phantasm III Phantasm III is an imaginary "movie sound track" featuring the widest possible variety of intriguing sounds and colors. From its first moment with all performers exploring every imaginable possibility for through a finale of spatial sixteenth notes Phantasm III drives forward with relentless energy. Grade 5 7 players $45.00 Celestial Elements" for 7 Percussionists and Snare Drum Soloist Written to spotlight the snare drum, each movement gives the listener a different view of musical and tonal capabilities. The movements can be performed separately. "The best vehicle for showcasing the snare drums sound and color that I have ever experienced." Richard MacDonald, Director of Percussion Studies, Winona State University, Minnesota 1. Earth Reflects the orchestral role and sound of the snare drum. Grade 4 $20.00 2. Wind Highlights the sound color aspects of the snare drum. Grade 5+ $20.00 3. Fire Aggressive "outdoor" character of the snare drum. Grade 5+ $20.00 Sorcery! Orchestral style ensemble with 20th century harmony, and a driving timpani ostinato. (TEXAS SAMPLEUIL ENSEMBLE LIST, CLASS 1) Grade 5 12 players $40.00 Mushroom Soup A flashy fusion composition featuring bass and drumset with contrasting musical sections. 11 players, bass and drumset Grade 5 $40.00 Soul of the new machine A contemporary ensemble for a younger group, that features a wide range of colors and textures. (TEXAS UIL ENSEMBLE LIST, CLASS 1) Grade 3-4 7 players $30.00

Michael Varner Music

Solo

The Silence Between…. Advanced Multiple Percussion Solo written for 4 toms, 4 almglocken, and opera gong. This is a minimalist set up that explores an incredible vocabulary of sounds and effects $25.00 FireStorm Very Advanced snare drum solo taking the marching idiom to new dimensions $11.00 Winds of Change Advanced Concert Snare solo featuring every imaginable sonic possibility $11.00 Challenging Horizons Snare drum collection of 11 solos progressing from intermediate to advanced featuring the latest techniques combined with good musical phrasing. (TEXAS UIL SOLO LIST, CLASS 1) Grade 3-5 $12.00 Bamboo Dragon Challenging Multiple percussion solo for concert toms, Bass drum, temple gongs, and wood block. Wide variety of colors, featuring sections Requiring extensive hand independence. ...."the sounds of the orient!" (TEXAS UIL SOLO LIST, CLASS 1) Grade 5 $14.00 Counterpane II Advanced snare drum solo highlightig both the visual and excitement of marching percussion. Grade 5 $9.50

Available through your local music store or direct from: SAMPLEMichael Varner Music University of Texas at Arlington Music Department PO 19105 Arlington, TX 76019 http://www.uta.edu/mvarner/acover

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