Walker-Palio di Siena (SP)-B/2V/C/Cro./X/2M/4T/P

Palio di Siena by Clif Walker is an advanced percussion ensemble work inspired by the famous horse race held twice each year in Siena, Italy. In a nonstop 90-second sprint, performers are pushed to their physical and musical limits through relentless tempo, articulation, and endurance challenges.

Scored for nine players, the instrumentation features a colorful mix of mallet keyboards, timpani, and battery percussion that captures the race’s tension and exhilaration. With its technical demands and driving pace, Palio di Siena makes a dynamic concert opener or showcase for experienced ensembles.

Additional Information

• Number of players: 9
• Difficulty: Advanced


• Instrumentation:
• Player 1: Glockenspiel, concert snare drum, hi-hat, ride cymbal, castanet machine
• Player 2: Chimes, claves
• Player 3: Vibraphone 1
• Player 4: Vibraphone 2
• Player 5: Xylophone
• Player 6: Marimba 1 (4.3 octave)
• Player 7: Marimba 2 (5 octave)
• Player 8: 4 Timpani, 5 granite or temple blocks

Player 9: Crotales (high octave), bongos, splash stack, ride cymbal, 3 woodblocks (high, med, low)