Spears-Windstone Suite-P/B/X/M/C/V/4T

Windstone Suite by Jared Spears for percussion octet. This piece was inspired by the pioneer spirit, Native American legends, and the countryside of Wisconsin. The first movement, Windstone, reflects the beautiful forests and lakes of the landscape as well as urban impressions. Drone Dance, movement two, is based on an old popular folk tune sung by pioneer lumberjacks, "The Shantyman's Life". The percussion instruments and players musically depict the hugging and puffing of the loggers as they cut the tall pines. Distant Songs and Incantations is a mysterious, ethereal setting of an old Chippewa lullaby sung by a mother at the edge of a quiet lake. The final movement, Visions and Jubilations, captures the exuberance of a Native American festival and recaptures the impressions of the first movement.

Each movement is constructed in such a manner as to be a work performable individually in a contest or concert situation. A selection of individual movements may be performed as a shortened version of the original suite.

Instrumentation:
Player 1 - bells
Player 2 - xylophone, triangle
Player 3 - marimba, maracas
Player 4 - chimes (or piano), sleigh bells
Player 5 - vibraphone (or piano)
Player 6 - timpani, triangle
Player 7 - snare drum, wind chimes, claves, sleigh bells
Player 8 - 4 tom toms, 5 temple blocks, suspended cymbal