Johnson, D.-Quartz City (SP)-V/M/P

Quartz City by David Johnson for vibraphone solo and percussion quintet.

"In Quartz City, I have created a harmonic bed that is inspired by jazz and combined it with a percussive texture and density that is more like the "classical" percussion traditions of Michael Colgrass, Lou Harrison, and Steve Reich. The title was inspired by The City of Quartz, and urban history book by Mike Davis about class and imigration conflict in Los Angeles. To me, the musical textures of L.A. (the city of quartz) are Mexican marimbas, Chinese cymbals, and jazz. Quartz City won first place in the 1995 Percussive Arts Society Composition Competition." - David Johnson

Instrumentation:
Player 1 - vibraphone solo
Player 2 - 4.3-octave marimba
Player 3 - 4.5-octave marimba (shared with Player 4), woodblocks, small cymbal
Player 4 - 4.5-octave marimba (shared with Player 3), congas, bongos
Player 5 - two crash cymbals, two Wuhan cymbals
Player 6 - crotales, bass drum, two log drums, opera gong