Drachten-Elisabeth (tenor version) (Reilly)
arranged for multi-tenor solo by Matt Penland
Price range: $12.00 through $17.00
With Drachten-Elisabeth (multi-tenor version), Matt Penland has taken a traditional snare solo by John Mark Reilly and repurposed it for modern marching multi-tenors. Consisting of the same orchestral, hybrid, Basel, and ancient rudiments from Reilly’s original work, the tenor version adds new dimensions and colors while providing a healthy and very musical challenge for the advanced player.
This arrangement includes versions for five-drum and six-drum multi-tenor configurations.
Drachten-Elisabeth (multi-tenor version) ships as a professionally bound folio with a color cover.
- Marching tenors (5 or 6 drums)
Reviews
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Tim Feerst –
“Drachten-Elisabeth” was originally a snare drum solo written by John Mark Reilly, and Matt Penland has arranged it for marching tenors. The solo consists of a variety of hybrid, orchestral, Basel, and ancient rudiments and follows a traditional form of AA/BB/CC. Penland says he was “inspired by Reilly’s composition and wanted to experiment with how it would sound on a modern marching percussion instrument.” The piece comes with both a 5-drum version (one spock drum) and a 6-drum version (two spock drums).
Strong marching chops, specifically on marching tenors, are vital for tackling this solo. A variety of vocabulary is seen in this solo, including multiple polyrhythmic shifts and fast paradiddle- diddles, as well as hybrid rudiments such as flam-fives, inverted flam taps, and book reports. Specific to marching tenors, crossovers and fast diddles that incorporate sweeps are present throughout. Of particular note is the direction to “play in rudimental swing fashion with each rudiment deliberately shaped.” Penland is very intentional with his performance notes and musical directions, so one must be sure to follow them when practicing this piece. They are super important to performing this solo correctly and faithfully.
Overall, “Drachten-Elisabeth” is a short marching tenor solo (approximate playing time is two minutes) that brilliantly blends chops with musicality. Those looking for a piece written for the instrument that challenges them both technically and musicality will find a prime example of just that here.
—Tim Feerst
Percussive Notes
Vol. 63, No. 3, June 2025