New Music Added to Texas PML

The updated Texas Prescribed Music List has been released for the 2023-2024 academic year and includes two of my new compositions: "Prime Numbers" for shared marimba sextet and "Zig Zag" for percussion trio, both published by C. Alan Publications.

Additional titles on the Texas PML include: "A Simple Process" (for solo flute and keyboard percussion ensemble), "Basic Geometry" (percussion trio), "Chipboard" (percussion trio), "Clouds Make Songo Away" (large percussion ensemble), "Conversations" (percussion trio), "Desert Clouds" (for flute, violin, and marimba), "Duet Trio" (percussion trio), "Extra Spices, Please!" (solo marimba), "forFOUR" (solo marimba), "Hands Up" (conga or djembe trio), "Impact" (for tuba/euphonium quartet plus percussion), "In a Heartbeat" (solo marimba), "Institutionalized" (cajon quartet with pedal instruments), "Just Like That" (percussion quintet), "Lullaby of a Dream" (solo marimba) "Motion" (solo vibraphone), "Roundabout" (percussion trio), "Tight Quarters" (for 4-7 percussionists), "Toy Box" (solo multiple percussion), "Triskaidekaphobia" (percussion trio), "Wood, Metal, Skin" (percussion trio), and "Zeug" (percussion quartet).

Three New Books

A career in music can be exciting, flexible, and profitable, but it requires navigating both musical and business complexities in a consistently evolving industry. Allowing you to build on what certainly are years of artistic study, FREELANCE highlights ten timeless keys required to successfully turn your music into your business.

Available NOW from C. Alan Publications.
Also available on Kindle from Amazon.

 

 

 


Pauken Pairings was written in recognition of the need for engaging works for timpani that are accessible for a wide range of student percussionists. Each of the pieces included is playable on two timpani (29” and 26” drums), incorporates notable excerpts from significant orchestral works by two composers, and includes an optional groove-based electronic accompaniment (arranged & programmed by Bryce Craig) that may be performed using the downloadable pre-recorded track or played by a second percussionist on drum set, snare drum, cajón, djembe, pandeiro, etc.

Available NOW from C. Alan Publications.

 

 


Created with a logical and systematic approach, carefully designed to aid beginning keyboard percussionists in developing strong reading skills. Included in Two Steps Forward are over thirty progressive etudes, numerous short sight-reading phrases, scale drills, rhythm checks, and structured composition and improvisation opportunities, along with six recital-ready solos.

This new book is the result of nearly 10 years of edits and revisions based on its use with beginning keyboard percussion students. Every effort has been made to ensure that this method approaches the development of keyboard percussion skills in a thoughtful, accessible, and effective manner.

Available NOW from C. Alan Publications.

Recently Commissioned

RING TOSS
coming soon for snare drum quartet

Momentum Percussion Group
Special thanks also to the following partners in the commissioning consortium for this work:
Jeremy Boudreaux, Bridge City High School, BYU Percussion, Goose Creek Memorial High School, Dillan Hawkins, Jovon Milford (Allen University Percussion Ensemble), Pana Percussion Quartet, Dustin Smith, Sam Wetzel, and Dr. Lindsay Whelan.


LIGHT ON THE ICE
for clarinet and marimba duo

The Unfiltered Duo
Amy Humberd and Paul Hayes


THERE, THEIR, THEY'RE
for percussion quartet with limited instrumentation

Jeff Calissi (Eastern Connecticut State University) with Andrew Kolar (Sacred Heart University), Frank Kumor (Kutztown University), Nicholaus Meyers (East Central University), Mariusz Mocarski (Fryderyk Chopin Music University), and Glenn Webb (Dixie State University).


PRIME NUMBERS
for three players on each side of a 5.0-octave marimba

Matt Coleman (Brigham Young University), Stephen Crawford (University of Mary Hardin-Baylor), Wes Hawkins (Phoenix College), Matt Holm (Kent State University), Doug Nottingham (Glendale Community College), Tracy Wiggins (University of Northern Alabama)

New Works for Vibraphone

In 2021, the percussion community celebrated the 100th anniversary of the vibraphone. During that year and leading up to it, it was my pleasure to create and release several new works featuring the vibraphone.

HAPPINESS THEME
for vibraphone solo

LEVEL PLAYING FIELD
for vibraphone trio

ONCE IN LOVE WITH AMY
for vibraphone solo

PURE IMAGINATION
for vibraphone solo

SOMEWHERE OUT THERE
for vibraphone solo

THANKS FOR LISTENING
for vibraphone and marimba duo

Left Edge Percussion Composition Contest

"Quintic" for percussion quintet, composed by Josh Gottry, was selected as the winning composition for the 2020 Left Edge Percussion Composition Contest. Over 80 entries were submitted from across the U.S., Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Egypt, France, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the U.K., and Venezuela.

"Quintic" was premiered virtually by Left Edge Percussion at Southern Oregon University in May 2020, received a live premiere by Left Edge Percussion in October 2020, and was published by C. Alan Publications in November 2020.

Check out video from the premiere performance of Quintic, read more information about it, and order your copy of the piece.

Light on the Ice

“With a comfortable groove” is the indication given to the performers at the beginning of the piece, and it is this groove that makes the piece so enjoyable for the listener. [It] would be a tuneful and upbeat addition to any recital program.
Robyn Jones

Two Steps Forward

"I highly recommend Two Steps Forward. It is the solution for any beginning mallet-percussion educators who have struggled to get their students reading rather than memorizing."
Joe Millea

Bubblegum

Bubblegum bills itself as an homage to the Motown hits of the early 1960s, and it’s hard not to hear the connection after even just a couple of bars have passed … [it] is exactly what I would want from a middle school piece: fun, educational, flexible, and accessible.
Brian Graiser

Open Spaces

“Open Spaces” is a pleasingly tonal intermediate work for solo four-mallet marimba … an effective short-term project for an advanced high school or undergraduate performer. Bravo to Mr. Gottry for another excellent and educational marimba solo.
Joseph Van Hassel

There, Their, They’re