Beck-Jazz Variants-DS/4T/P/V/M/B/C

Jazz Variants is a large work for percussion ensemble that showcases different treatments of one main jazz theme. This piece starts of with a cadenza like jazz section that is contrasted with a driving rock section that expands on the original theme.

Number of Players: 8
Difficulty: Grade 5
Instrumentation:

• Player I: Vibraphone


• Player II: Marimba


• Player III: Bells and Tambourine


• Player IV: Chimes, Bell Tree (or Wind Chimes), Guiro, Triangle, Bongos


• Player V: Suspended Cymbal, Cowbell, Bass Drum, Tambourine, Conga Drum


• Player VI: Bell Tree, Tambourine, Bongos, 4 Tom-Toms


• Player VII: 4 Timpani


• Player VIII: Drumset

John H. Beck was a member of the U.S. Marine Band for four years before joining the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra as Principal Percussionist in 1959 and becoming Principal Timpanist in 1962. A recipient of B.M. and M.M. degrees from the Eastman School of Music, he currently heads its Percussion Department and is conductor of the Eastman Percussion Ensemble.