Bazelon-Propulsions(S)

Propulsions is an 18 minute Concerto for Percussion, scored for seven performers, ans a variety of eastern western and African Instruments. It was Bazelon's intention to interrelate the sounds of membrane, steel, wood, glass and silence; to explore their color ranges,both singly and in combination.

Number of Players: 7
Difficulty: Grade 5
Instrumentation:

Player I: Xylophone (opt), Marimba, Vibraphone, Chimes, Triangle, Large Cowbell, 2 Woodblocks, Bell Tree, Suspended Cymbal, Anvil, Metal Plate, Assorted Bells, Japanese Wood Chimes, Chinese Cymbals (various sizes), Maracas, Snare Drum, Piccolo Snare Drum

Player II: Java Hat Gong, 3 Japanese Cup Gongs, 2 Japanese Bowl Gongs, Silver Bell, Finger Cymbals, Ship's Bell, Triangle, Bell Tree, Anvil, Metal Plate, Claves, Scratcher, Large Cowbell, Suspended Cymbal, African Thumb Piano *, Woodblock , Log Drum, 5 Temple Blocks, Talking Drum. Snare Drum, Piccolo Snare Drum, Tom-Tom, Chimes

Player III: 2 Tabla *, 3 Bongos, 2 Timbales, Bass Drum, Philippine Shell Chimes, Japanese Wood Chimes, Scratcher, Finger Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal, Assorted Cymbals, Chimes

Player IV: Triangle, Suspended Cymbal, Large Cowbell, 2 Woodblocks, Metal Plate in Water, 5 Temple Blocks, 3 Bongos, 2 Timbales, Log Drum, Snare Drum, Piccolo Snare Drum, Chinese Drum, 2 Tom-Toms, Tenor Drum, Bass Drum

Player V: Triangle, Suspended Cymbals (1 sizzle), Bell Tree, Large Cowbell, African Rattle, Claves, Maracas, Scratcher, Log Drum, 2 Woodblocks, 5 Temple Blocks, Anvil, Metal Plate, Tuned Bells, Java Hat Gong, Ship's Bell, 3 Japanese Cup Gongs, 2 Japanese Bowl Gongs, Bass Drum, Tam-Tam

Player VI: Suspended Cymbal, Finger Cymbals, African Rattle, Maracas, Silver Bell, Phillipine Shell Chimes, Bass Slide Whistle, Cricket-Callers, Metal Plate, Woodblock, Snare Drum, Piccolo Snare Drum, Talking Drum, Log Drum, 2 Tom-Toms, Bass Drum, 4 Timpani

Player VII: African Rattle, Claves, 2 Woodblocks (opt), Anvil (opt), 3 Bongos, 2 Timbales, 5 Temple Blocks, 4 Congas, Cuica, Metal Plate, Metal Plate in Water, Tam-Tam

* Requires amplification.

A composer of both concert and film music, Irwin Bazelon (1922-1995) created works that are rhythmically complex and driving, often influenced by jazz and featuring brass and percussion.
Born in Evanston, Illinois, Bazelon began his education at DePaul University in Chicago. He then studied composition with Paul Hindemith at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut for a short time, after which he went to Mills College in Oakland, California to work with Darius Milhaud.