Description
Music Files Below (Left click to listen, right-click to download)
Composer/Arranger: John Max McFarland
Exhausted from putting the finishing touches on his famous piano piece, "Fϋr Elise", the romantic composer, Ludwig Von Beethoven, dozes off into a nightmarish slumber. Fully aware of his inevitable hearing loss, Beethoven manifests an evil version of himself (played by the center snare), which torments him throughout his dream. The evil manifestation plays games with the comatose Beethoven; at one point even mocking his hearing loss by having the battery section fake playing while a sampler plays low frequency drum notes. Famous quotes from Beethoven's 5th and 9th symphonies, as well as his famous "Moonlight Sonata" are twisted and distorted through the use of modern styles such as rock, dubstep, hip-hop, and many others. The evil chaos culminates as all of these different styles and quotes converge. As the turmoil reaches its peak, it is abruptly halted, Beethoven wakes up from his nightmare, and he finishes his work.
Experience this exciting new "A-Class" show, and prepare for a wild ride as you enter "Beethoven's Nightmare".
TECHNICAL NOTES:
Total Performance Time: 4:25
Tempo Range (in BPM): 60 - 174
Instrumentation:
Glockenspiel
Vibes 1, 2, 3
Marimba 1, 2
Electric Guitar
Bass Guitar
Synthesizer 1
Synthesizer 2/Sampler
Drum Kit (Utilizing the Sampler at one point)
Auxiliary Percussion 1, 2
Snares
Tenors (5 drums)
5 Bass Drums (4 bass drum part available upon request)
Cymbals
Front Ensemble Technical Notes:
The Front Ensemble book is holistically an "A-Class" book with some open class moments for certain parts/players (explained in detail below)
- The Vibes 1 and 2 parts are written for 4-mallet playing with block chords and some inside mallet work
- The VIbes 3 part is more simplified, with a strict 2-mallet focus. Feel free to interchange these parts based on your ensemble's abilities.
- The Marimba 1 part exhibits a lot of open class skill sets including:
- 4 mallet permutations performed at quick tempi
- 4-mallet Block Chords
- Some triple-lateral strokes at slower tempi
- Two Mallet sixteenth note runs performed at 174BPM
- The Marimba 2 part is written using more of a basic skillset and includes the following:
- Exclusive 2-mallet playing only
- 16th note runs (2 beats maximum) at 174BPM
- Triplet-based double strokes in Left Hand (RLL) at 144BPM
- Chromatic triplet runs
- Quick double stops
- Synthesizer 2 Part covers a lot of the samples either using built-in sampler capabilities on the synth or utilizing a sample pad.
- A good electric guitar player is highly recommended to be able to perform the show correctly. If one is not available it's possible to have the guitar parts played by a synthesizer, but it is not ideal.
- A drum set player with good timing as well as versed in various double kick-drum techniques is highly recommended for the show.
Battery Technical Notes:
- The battery book contains vocabulary conducive to an A-Class Ensemble
- The Snare book contains the following techniques:
- Short one-height triplet rolls (two counts or less) at 144BPM
- Various Triplet accent patterns throughout
- Paradiddle and Paradiddle-diddle patterns (Triplet and 16th notes) at 174BPM
- 8th note based rolls throughout
- 16th based "puh-di-duh" patterns (briefly) at 174BPM.
- "Ghost" drumming (Fake playing) while electronic sounds are being triggered
- The Tenor book contains the same rhythmic elements as the snare book as well as:
- Some minor cross-overs to drums 3 and/or 4, mostly in paradiddle or isolated patterns
- No use of sweeps from drum to drum
- The Bass book contains the following vocabulary:
- Split 8th note based 2's splits 174BPM
- Basic triplet patterns
- Basic 8th note patterns
- The Cymbal book contains the following vocabulary:
- Crashes, Hi-Hats, Siz/Suc, Sizzles, Zings,Taps, Body Taps, Tap Chokes,
- Some syncopated patterns