Blue SteelBlue Steel
Click to enlarge

Purchase

Blue Steel

for solo timpani
Level: Med-Easy
Duration: 1:15
State Lists: Texas
Release Date: 2021
Product ID : TSPCS21-011
Price: $9.00
Item #: TSPCS21-011

Formats Available:


Description

Rob Parks titled Blue Steel after a steel drum group he played in at the University of Kentucky, and the musical inspiration is easy to hear. The piece uses calypso rhythms, steel drum “strumming” patterns, and drumset influence. At points, the performer is asked to strike the bowl of the drum with one hand while playing on the drumhead with the other.

Full of character and an introduction to extended playing techniques, this work is ideal as learning material for developing players!

This solo can also be found in The Blue Book - Volume 3 along with over 40 other solos for snare drum, drum set, mallet keyboard, and timpani.

Blue Steel ships as a printed, professionally bound folio with a full color cover.

Instrumentation

  • 3 timpani (32’’, 29’’, 26’’)

Reviews

“Blue Steel” is a welcome addition to the solo timpani repertoire in that it’s short, accessible, and suitable for beginning percussion students. Inspired by his time in the University of Kentucky steel drum combo “Blue Steel,” Rob Parks incorporates typical steelband, drum set, and strumming patterns. The piece calls for three timpani tuned to F2, B-flat2, and D3. I appreciate that there are not any tuning changes, helping with the piece’s accessibility. There are no rolls, allowing performers to focus on rhythmic articulation at various dynamics and contrasting musical characters.

The end of the piece asks the performer to play on a timpani bowl with one hand while playing on the drumheads with the other; this presents a coordination challenge. As always with these types of passages, the performer will need to use caution to not damage the instrument.

—Joseph Van Hassel
Percussive Notes
Vol. 60, No. 1, February 2022

Description

Rob Parks titled Blue Steel after a steel drum group he played in at the University of Kentucky, and the musical inspiration is easy to hear. The piece uses calypso rhythms, steel drum “strumming” patterns, and drumset influence. At points, the performer is asked to strike the bowl of the drum with one hand while playing on the drumhead with the other.

Full of character and an introduction to extended playing techniques, this work is ideal as learning material for developing players!

This solo can also be found in The Blue Book - Volume 3 along with over 40 other solos for snare drum, drum set, mallet keyboard, and timpani.

Blue Steel ships as a printed, professionally bound folio with a full color cover.

Instrumentation

  • 3 timpani (32’’, 29’’, 26’’)

Reviews

“Blue Steel” is a welcome addition to the solo timpani repertoire in that it’s short, accessible, and suitable for beginning percussion students. Inspired by his time in the University of Kentucky steel drum combo “Blue Steel,” Rob Parks incorporates typical steelband, drum set, and strumming patterns. The piece calls for three timpani tuned to F2, B-flat2, and D3. I appreciate that there are not any tuning changes, helping with the piece’s accessibility. There are no rolls, allowing performers to focus on rhythmic articulation at various dynamics and contrasting musical characters.

The end of the piece asks the performer to play on a timpani bowl with one hand while playing on the drumheads with the other; this presents a coordination challenge. As always with these types of passages, the performer will need to use caution to not damage the instrument.

—Joseph Van Hassel
Percussive Notes
Vol. 60, No. 1, February 2022


You may also like...

A fun and entertaining medium-level timpani solo inspired by the famous “Call to the Post” bugle call.
Duration: 2:10 | Level: Medium
$12.00
Take a ride down to Brazil with this fun timpani solo that centers around the rhythms and patterns of Samba Batucada!
Duration: 6:30 | Level: Medium
$15.00
An impressive tour-de-force for the advanced timpanist.
Duration: 4:00 | Level: Advanced
$16.00
Written for five drums, this piece begins with a dramatic and lyrical opening, then bursts into an "allegro" theme. It ends with an energetic passage requiring various pedalings and cross-over stickings.
Duration: 3:20 | Level: Medium
$15.00
#TAPSPACE