Farr-Ukare Funk (Parts ONLY)-P

Ukare Funk by Gareth Farr is a piece for percussion quartet. Score and parts sold separately. This piece was commissioned as the finale of Strike's new show Elemental, Ukare Funk explores different ways of finding syncopation within a triple (compound) beat. Complicated cross rhythms playing against more steady groove rhythms is a major feature of the piece's rhythmic textures. It also uses an unusual time signature throughout the piece - 4+5/8 alternating with 4+6/8 - which in simpler language sounds like a regular bar of four beats with a little bit left over at the end!

The piece is inspired by Japanese taiko drumming and uses Strike's newly-made taiko drums. "Ukare" is, as a musical term, Japanese for a swung or compound beat. In everyday usage it also means "letting go" or "throwing caution to the wind and enjoying yourself", which sums up the mood of the piece perfectly.