Not In JestNot In Jest
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Not In Jest

for percussion duo
Level: Advanced
Duration: 4:45
Personnel: 2 players
State Lists: Florida
Release Date: 2022
Product ID : TSPCD22-006
Price: $32.00
Item #: TSPCD22-006

Formats Available:


Description

Composer Robert Sanderl describes Not In Jest as a nod to Armenian jazz pianist Tigran Hamasyan. Tigran's music is known for its progressive harmonies and brain-melting syncopation, fused seamlessly with his strong influence in Southwest Asian/Middle Eastern folk music. The result is a work for advanced percussion duo that showcases a strong pulse, tangible harmonies, and infectious rhythms.

Much of the piece revolves around the interaction between the players, with hocketing being a recurring compositional device throughout. Each person mainly plays on a marimba, with an extended multipercussion setup including kick drum and hi-hats creating a hard-driving groove. The work is specifically inspired by the Hamasyan tune "The Court Jester," characterized by highly creative chord progressions and impressive metric displacement. Any pair of capable percussionists will enjoy learning this piece for recitals, contests, or just sheer fun!

Not In Jest ships as a printed, professionally bound score, and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or tablet viewing.

Instrumentation

2 marimbas — (2) 5-octave

Drums — kick drum (1 or 2)*

Cymbals — hi-hats (2), splash cymbal

*kick drum for Player 2 is optional

Reviews

“Not in Jest” is inspired by the music of Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan — specifically “The Court Jester.” Not being familiar with Hamasyan’s music, I checked it out, and I’m glad I did! It’s well worth seeking out if you’re not already familiar with it. Robert Sanderl’s intent was to write a “fun, groove piece that drives hard from start to finish, with a strong pulse, tangible harmonies, and infectious rhythms.” He certainly succeeds!

“Not in Jest” is a marimba duet with each performer playing a few additional instruments (hi-hat, splash cymbal, kick drum). The kick drum part is optional for Player 2, as it only plays in unison with Player 1 near the end of the piece. Along with Hamasyan’s music, I also found “Not in Jest” to have similarities with Graham Fitkin’s percussion quartet “Hook,” particularly its rhythmic and harmonic language as well as its repetitive patterns and instrumentation.

Each performer needs four mallets and a good amount of coordination to perform the piece. There is significant movement among instruments, as well as challenging coordination between the marimba and kick drum in Player 1’s part. As far as marimba technique goes, single-mallet playing, rotation strokes with different permutations, and double stops are called for. There is also a lot of tricky rhythmic coordination between the two parts. I recommend this engaging work for undergraduate or graduate recital performance.

—Joseph Van Hassel
Percussive Notes
Vol. 61, No. 1, February 2023

Description

Composer Robert Sanderl describes Not In Jest as a nod to Armenian jazz pianist Tigran Hamasyan. Tigran's music is known for its progressive harmonies and brain-melting syncopation, fused seamlessly with his strong influence in Southwest Asian/Middle Eastern folk music. The result is a work for advanced percussion duo that showcases a strong pulse, tangible harmonies, and infectious rhythms.

Much of the piece revolves around the interaction between the players, with hocketing being a recurring compositional device throughout. Each person mainly plays on a marimba, with an extended multipercussion setup including kick drum and hi-hats creating a hard-driving groove. The work is specifically inspired by the Hamasyan tune "The Court Jester," characterized by highly creative chord progressions and impressive metric displacement. Any pair of capable percussionists will enjoy learning this piece for recitals, contests, or just sheer fun!

Not In Jest ships as a printed, professionally bound score, and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or tablet viewing.

Instrumentation

2 marimbas — (2) 5-octave

Drums — kick drum (1 or 2)*

Cymbals — hi-hats (2), splash cymbal

*kick drum for Player 2 is optional

Reviews

“Not in Jest” is inspired by the music of Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan — specifically “The Court Jester.” Not being familiar with Hamasyan’s music, I checked it out, and I’m glad I did! It’s well worth seeking out if you’re not already familiar with it. Robert Sanderl’s intent was to write a “fun, groove piece that drives hard from start to finish, with a strong pulse, tangible harmonies, and infectious rhythms.” He certainly succeeds!

“Not in Jest” is a marimba duet with each performer playing a few additional instruments (hi-hat, splash cymbal, kick drum). The kick drum part is optional for Player 2, as it only plays in unison with Player 1 near the end of the piece. Along with Hamasyan’s music, I also found “Not in Jest” to have similarities with Graham Fitkin’s percussion quartet “Hook,” particularly its rhythmic and harmonic language as well as its repetitive patterns and instrumentation.

Each performer needs four mallets and a good amount of coordination to perform the piece. There is significant movement among instruments, as well as challenging coordination between the marimba and kick drum in Player 1’s part. As far as marimba technique goes, single-mallet playing, rotation strokes with different permutations, and double stops are called for. There is also a lot of tricky rhythmic coordination between the two parts. I recommend this engaging work for undergraduate or graduate recital performance.

—Joseph Van Hassel
Percussive Notes
Vol. 61, No. 1, February 2023


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