Adams, D.-Pentagonal Waves-5T - Product Information
I composed Pentagonal Waves for Dr. Joseph Moore III on the occasion of his appointment to the Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Texas, Brownsville. The title is derived from the prominence of the number five in several aspects of the piece. It is composed for five drums and is five minutes and fifty-five seconds in duration. Its metric structure is based on the alternation of quintuple meter with triple, duple, and asymmetrical metric structures and in the frequent occurrence of quintuplets interspersed between duple and triple-based rhythmic subdivisions.
The piece begins with a slow introduction in five-four time, which is twice interrupted by rapid passages in odd meters. Subsequent sections are based on contrapuntal passages with various combinations of two drums played by one hand while three drums are played using the other hand. The two independent repeated rhythmic figures converge at regular rhythmic intervals.
In a pre-final section, the coloristic palette of the timpani are expanded, as the performer plays the drums using yarn mallets and bare hands. The performer returns to conventional timpani mallets one hand at a time, and a section of vast dynamic contrasts includes repetitions of one or two notes and glissandi. A coda of rapid notes between all drums brings the piece to a conclusion.
-Daniel Adams
Number of players: 1
Difficulty: Advanced
Instrumentation: 5 timpani
The piece begins with a slow introduction in five-four time, which is twice interrupted by rapid passages in odd meters. Subsequent sections are based on contrapuntal passages with various combinations of two drums played by one hand while three drums are played using the other hand. The two independent repeated rhythmic figures converge at regular rhythmic intervals.
In a pre-final section, the coloristic palette of the timpani are expanded, as the performer plays the drums using yarn mallets and bare hands. The performer returns to conventional timpani mallets one hand at a time, and a section of vast dynamic contrasts includes repetitions of one or two notes and glissandi. A coda of rapid notes between all drums brings the piece to a conclusion.
-Daniel Adams
Number of players: 1
Difficulty: Advanced
Instrumentation: 5 timpani
