Childs-Bangala (SP)-B/2V/Cro./C/X/4M/BM/5T/P/PN

Bängala by David T. Childs is a piece for 13 percussionists and piano. Bängala is the Kikongo word for poisonwood, a noxious shrub that can cause painful welts if it touches the skin, or death if its smoke is inhaled. This piece is a series of three vignettes inspired by Barbara Kingsolver's novel, The Poisonwood Bible, which narrates a combination of fictional and historical events in the first days of independence in the congo. The missionary in the story ends each sermon with the phrase, "Jesus is bangala," when he meant to say "bängala," or great treasure. His Georgia accent resulted in a miscommunication that symbolized the tragedy that awaited. Bängala was written for David Eyler and the Tri-College Percussion Ensemble.

Instrumentation:

Percussion 1 - crotales, large suspended cymbal, tambourine

Percussion 2 - bells, chimes, snare drum

Percussion 3 - xylophone, 4 bongos

Percussion 4 - vibraphone, temple blocks

Percussion 5 - vibraphone, woodblocks

Percussion 6 - 4 octave marimba

Percussion 7 - 4 octave marimba, triangle

Percussion 8 - 4 octave marimba

Percussion 9 - 4 octave marimba, kalimba, suspended cymbal (medium)

Percussion 10 - bass marimba, large tam tam

Percussion 11 - 4 congas, 5 brake drums

Percussion 12 - bass drum, 3 toms, 5 log drums, small suspended cymbal

Percussion 13 - 5 timpani

Piano