Roldan-Ritmica #5 (S)-P

Roldán wrote at least six pieces carrying the title Ritmica; the first was for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, and piano. The fifth and sixth called for eleven percussion players. As the title states, these latter items are purely rhythmic studies; even the tuned instruments are used exclusively as rhythmic devices. The musical inspiration, as usual with this composer, is Afro-Cuban. Despite the rather large personnel requirement, Ritmica V proceeds mainly with quiet taps from a garden of percussion instruments, with only occasional unruly outbursts. A polyrhythmic crescendo begins to build two-thirds of the way through, but Roldán refrains from ending with the expected crash; a few loud, decisive conga-drum beats suffice.