by Clif Walker
9 players
Instrumentation: Chimes, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Vibraphone, 2 marimbas—1 (4-octave), 1 (low A)*, 4 timpani, Drums (bongos, 2 concert toms, snare drum, concert bass drum), Cymbals & gongs (sizzle cymbal, 3 suspended cymbals, small & medium China cymbals, tam-tam, hi-hat), Accessories (brake drum, mark tree, temple blocks, triangle, flexatone, vibraslap, bell tree, metal shaker)
*If two marimbas are not available, both players can share a single 4.3-octave (low A) marimba.
Clif Walker‘s Gotham (1940) is written to depict the mysterious and dangerous city, Gotham, in which the superhero Batman existed. A slow, steady, and sullen piece, the music gradually builds to a climax of triplet, march-like rhythms and dissonant harmonies. Walker also includes a host of auxiliary percussion instruments like brake drums, granite blocks, a flexatone, a bell tree, and a bevy of cymbals, which reflect the hard, crime-ridden, and industrial nature of Gotham City.
Gotham (1940) comes as a professionally printed and bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or for tablet viewing.
