Roundup
for percussion ensemble and guitar
Step into the wild west with Roundup by Brian Slawson! This 11-player percussion ensemble is a rocking homage to the old American west for 10 percussionists and a guitarist. Beginning with a dramatic mallet chorale, the piece sets the stage with imagery of an old, deserted western town with tumbleweeds rolling by. As the piece kicks off, it is an energetic and clichéd rendition of the classic western style made famous in countless westerns and cowboy films. There are plenty of opportunities for quirky percussion effects and over-the-top guitar moments right out of the Ennio Marricone playbook. Roundup is an amusing percussion ensemble that everyone will love. Have fun and shoot from the hip!
Roundup ships as a printed, professionally bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or tablet viewing.
- Electric Guitar (optional acoustic guitar for introduction)
- Glockenspiel
- Vibraphone
- Chimes
- Xylophone
- Marimba — (1) 4-octave, (1) low A
- 4 Timpani
- Drumset
- Drums — timbales
- Cymbals & Gongs — China cymbal, suspended cymbal, tam-tam
- Accessories — castanets, claves, maracas, sleigh bells (two sets, if available), vibraslap, slapstick
Reviews
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Danielle Moreau –
“Roundup” for 10 percussionists and guitar is a fun and groovy piece that pays homage to the old American West. The work begins with a chorale section that conjures up scenes of abandoned desert towns before giving way to heavy backbeats, twangy guitar licks, and quirky percussion effects. Utilizing instruments commonly found in public schools, this piece is appropriate for younger high school ensembles whose program includes confident guitar and drumset players.
Much detail has been included for directors and performers throughout the score. Brian Slawson provides extensive program notes to help with interpretation of the music. Furthermore, the suggested setup and notation key are thorough yet concise. The auxiliary percussion part requires numerous instruments including maracas, sleigh-bells, vibraslap, slapstick, castanets, timbales, claves, and more. While some of the drumset part is notated, Slawson allows the performer to create their own groove as they choose. It is important to note that the guitarist must read both treble clef and chord symbols.
Despite all the musical cliche?s, I really took to this piece. Most of the keyboard parts are rhythmically or melodically in unison, helping younger students who may be new to mallets. It also gives students interested in drumset an avenue outside of jazz band and allows educators to include guitarists in the band program. Without a doubt, “Roundup” would be a hit with any ensemble and any audience.