by Jonathan Ovalle
6 players
Instrumentation: Glockenspiel, Chimes, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Marimba—low C, Drumset (snare, kick drum, 2 rack toms, floor tom, hi-hat, ride cymbal, China cymbal, splash cymbal), Drums (2 bongos, 2 congas, piccolo (or firecracker) snare drum, snare drum, field drum, 4 concert toms, kick drum (on a stand), concert bass drum), Cymbals (suspended cymbal, China stack), Accessories (mounted castanets, 2 brake drums, 2 woodblocks, 2 metal plates, 2 cowbells, slapstick)
True to its name, Jonathan Ovalle's Epic Proportions is a sextet with bombast and tenacious energy. The piece moves through many feels and time signatures with rhythmic motives derived from the syllables of its title (E-PIC/ PRO-POR-TIONS) or (2 + 3). Likewise, Ovalle craftily orchestrates duos and trios to accompany the soloist as a way of reinforcing the numbers 2 and 3. Your ensemble will definitely need stellar soloists on marimba and drumset, but the supporting cast will also have to be conscious of polyrhythms and constantly changing meters.
Epic Proportions was commissioned by Brian Zator and the Texas A&M University–Commerce Percussion Ensemble and was premiered at the 2010 Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, IN.
This piece comes with a full, bound score and includes a CD-ROM containing an audio recording and all individual parts available for printing.
