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Folklore

"Folklore" was commissioned by Farmington United Percussion Ensemble for their 2017 WGI season.  They went on to receive the Silver Medal in Percussion Independent A Class with the highest score in the ensemble's history.  

SHOW SYNOPSIS:

"It's been passed down from generation to generation.  These are our customs.  They are our beliefs.  This.....is our folklore!"

Featuring a visceral tapestry of tribal sounds and textures, "Folklore" seeks to demonstrate the various aspects of storytelling and history amongst a culture or tribe.  Written in 3 distinct sections, the ensemble takes the audience on a journey through the tribe's thoughts and beliefs.

Section 1 showcases the passing down of stories from generation to generation.  This is done through repetitive clapping and stomping patterns started at the beginning by a noble tribesman and imitated by the rest of the ensemble.  This idea continues with a snare and bass feature where both sections play split parts on each other's drums to represent the passing down of stories from one section to the other.  

Section 2 represents the idea of conflicting ideologies between tribes. The movement begins with a cymbal totem and drum totem.  The cymbals praise their totem with a cymbal feature while the rest of the battery gathers around their totem.  The cymbal feature is interupted with an abrupt and pointilistic battery moment.  After these moments are passed back and forth the music eventually intertwines while the totems are joined together to transition into the third section.

Section 3 celebrates the idea that although there are differing beliefs amongst cultures there's a common thread that unites us.  A final full ensemble moment dissolves back to the original tribesman at the beginning who performs his same clapping/stomping routine.  The others imitate him and he puts his hand on the wall, which lights up, representing the ending of the final story in their folklore!