On Thin Air - Revision history

Admin: Text replacement - "Category: Percussion Ensemble Works Category: Percussion 14 Works" to "Category:Percussion Ensemble Works Category:Percussion 14 Works Category:Percussion 12+ Works"

2026-01-06T22:35:25Z

Text replacement - "Category: Percussion Ensemble Works Category: Percussion 14 Works" to "Category:Percussion Ensemble Works Category:Percussion 14 Works Category:Percussion 12+ Works"

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:35, 6 January 2026
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	==Reference==		==Reference==

	[[Category: Percussion Ensemble Works]]		[[Category:Percussion Ensemble Works]]
	[[Category: Percussion 14 Works]]		[[Category:Percussion 14 Works]]
			[[Category:Percussion 12+ Works]]

Rubyng2004: /* Works for Percussion by this Composer */

2022-09-07T05:17:46Z

Works for Percussion by this Composer

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:17, 7 September 2022
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	— by Jason Baker <ref>Percussive Notes Volume 59 No. 1, February 2021 </ref>		— by Jason Baker <ref>Percussive Notes Volume 59 No. 1, February 2021 </ref>

	== Works for Percussion ~~by this Composer~~ ==		== Works for Percussion ==
	{{~~Wilmarth~~, John Works}}		{{Willmarth, John Works}}

	==Reference==		==Reference==

Rubyng2004: /* Review */

2022-08-31T04:15:56Z

Review

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:15, 31 August 2022
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	“[[On Thin Air]]” is a versatile piece that can meet the needs of a variety of different ensembles. Set almost entirely in eighth and quarter notes, the composer seeks to evoke “images of gliding, breathtaking views, and soaring above the clouds.” While suited for a younger ensemble (beginning high school) or a group rehearsing with limited time (honor band festival or a college sight-reading session), the music is convincing and uses clever compositional techniques to get the most out of limited material without seeming trite or tired— sounding similar to a Pixar or Disney soundtrack.		“[[On Thin Air]]” is a versatile piece that can meet the needs of a variety of different ensembles. Set almost entirely in eighth and quarter notes, the composer seeks to evoke “images of gliding, breathtaking views, and soaring above the clouds.” While suited for a younger ensemble (beginning high school) or a group rehearsing with limited time (honor band festival or a college sight-reading session), the music is convincing and uses clever compositional techniques to get the most out of limited material without seeming trite or tired— sounding similar to a Pixar or Disney soundtrack.

	The non-pitched instruments provide a solid base of interlocking quarter- and eighth-note rhythms, over which the xylophone and two marimba parts play similar, repetitive figures, using a limited range of pitches. Slower-moving, sustained gestures are scored in the glockenspiel, chimes, and ~~vibraphone—often~~ presented in unison rhythm. The timpani part is perhaps the most soloistic, providing punctuations and interaction with the rest of the ensemble.		The non-pitched instruments provide a solid base of interlocking quarter- and eighth-note rhythms, over which the [[xylophone]] and two [[marimba]] parts play similar, repetitive figures, using a limited range of pitches. Slower-moving, sustained gestures are scored in the [[glockenspiel]], [[chimes]], and [[vibraphone]]—often presented in unison rhythm. The timpani part is perhaps the most soloistic, providing punctuations and interaction with the rest of the ensemble.

	[[John Wilmarth]] provides a wealth of performance notes that will ease the mind of non-percussionist directors, such as which parts can be omitted, instrument substitutions, and permission to modify any parts to meet the needs of individual students. Pedagogy aside, the fact that this short piece (2:30) can be subjected to so many different approaches and still maintain its listenability and integrity is a testament to the composer’s craftsmanship.		[[John Wilmarth]] provides a wealth of performance notes that will ease the mind of non-percussionist directors, such as which parts can be omitted, instrument substitutions, and permission to modify any parts to meet the needs of individual students. Pedagogy aside, the fact that this short piece (2:30) can be subjected to so many different approaches and still maintain its listenability and integrity is a testament to the composer’s craftsmanship.

	— by Jason Baker <ref>Percussive Notes Volume 59 No. 1, February 2021 </ref>		— by Jason Baker <ref>Percussive Notes Volume 59 No. 1, February 2021 </ref>

			== Works for Percussion by this Composer ==
			{{Wilmarth, John Works}}

	==Reference==		==Reference==

Rubyng2004: /* Recent Performance */

2022-03-21T04:36:17Z

Recent Performance

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:36, 21 March 2022
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	==Recent Performance==		==Recent Performance==
			<embedvideo service="youtube"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1N2zF1M1Ps </embedvideo>

	==Review==		==Review==

Rubyng2004: /* Description */

2022-02-01T08:40:45Z

Description

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:40, 1 February 2022
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	==Description==		==Description==
	[[John Willmarth]]’s [[On Thin Air]] depicts what it might feel like to fly. The music evokes images of gliding, breathtaking views, and soaring high above the clouds. It is meant to evoke a sense of freedom, hopefulness and wonder in the listener. While the piece is written for younger groups with limited experience, it still communicates through a contemporary musical voice. The piece would also work well for more experienced middle school and high school ensembles with limited time to assemble and rehearse. Furthermore, to accommodate ensembles of different sizes and instrument capacities, five of the seven individual percussion parts are optional.		[[John Willmarth]]’s [[On Thin Air]] depicts what it might feel like to fly. The music evokes images of gliding, breathtaking views, and soaring high above the clouds. It is meant to evoke a sense of freedom, hopefulness and wonder in the listener. While the piece is written for younger groups with limited experience, it still communicates through a contemporary musical voice. The piece would also work well for more experienced middle school and high school ensembles with limited time to assemble and rehearse. Furthermore, to accommodate ensembles of different sizes and instrument capacities, five of the seven individual percussion parts are optional.

			==Commercial Recording==
			https://soundcloud.com/tapspacepublications/on-thin-air-john-willmarth?utm_source=clipboard&utm_campaign=wtshare&utm_medium=widget&utm_content=https%253A%252F%252Fsoundcloud.com%252Ftapspacepublications%252Fon-thin-air-john-willmarth

	==Recent Performance==		==Recent Performance==

Rubyng2004: Created page with "John Willmarth ==General Info== Release Date: 2020
Publisher: Tapspace
Difficulty: Elementary
Duration: 00:02:50
Price: $34.00
==Instrum..."

2022-02-01T08:39:31Z

Created page with "John Willmarth ==General Info== Release Date: 2020 Publisher: Tapspace Difficulty: Elementary Duration: 00:02:50 Price: $34.00 ==Instrum..."

New page

[[John Willmarth]]
==General Info==
Release Date: 2020 
Publisher: [[Tapspace]] 
Difficulty: Elementary 
Duration: 00:02:50 
Price: $34.00 

==Instrumentation==
Player 1: [[Glockenspiel]] 
Player 2: [[Vibraphone]] 
Player 3: [[Xylophone]] 
Player 4: [[Marimba]] 1 
Player 5: [[Marimba]] 2 
Player 6: [[Chimes]] & [[Suspended Cymbal]] 
Player 7: [[Timpani]] 
Player 8: [[Snare Drum]] & [[Hi-hat]] 
Player 9: [[Ride Cymbal]] & [[Woodblock]] & [[Tambourine]] 
Player 10: 2 Concert [[Tom-toms]] 
Player 11: [[Brake Drum]] & [[Triangle]] & [[Sleigh Bells]] 
Player 12: [[Mark Tree]] & [[Suspended Cymbal]] 
Player 13: [[Hand Cymbals]] 
Player 14: [[Bass Drum]] 

==Description==
[[John Willmarth]]’s [[On Thin Air]] depicts what it might feel like to fly. The music evokes images of gliding, breathtaking views, and soaring high above the clouds. It is meant to evoke a sense of freedom, hopefulness and wonder in the listener. While the piece is written for younger groups with limited experience, it still communicates through a contemporary musical voice. The piece would also work well for more experienced middle school and high school ensembles with limited time to assemble and rehearse. Furthermore, to accommodate ensembles of different sizes and instrument capacities, five of the seven individual percussion parts are optional.

==Recent Performance==

==Review==
“[[On Thin Air]]” is a versatile piece that can meet the needs of a variety of different ensembles. Set almost entirely in eighth and quarter notes, the composer seeks to evoke “images of gliding, breathtaking views, and soaring above the clouds.” While suited for a younger ensemble (beginning high school) or a group rehearsing with limited time (honor band festival or a college sight-reading session), the music is convincing and uses clever compositional techniques to get the most out of limited material without seeming trite or tired— sounding similar to a Pixar or Disney soundtrack.

The non-pitched instruments provide a solid base of interlocking quarter- and eighth-note rhythms, over which the xylophone and two marimba parts play similar, repetitive figures, using a limited range of pitches. Slower-moving, sustained gestures are scored in the glockenspiel, chimes, and vibraphone—often presented in unison rhythm. The timpani part is perhaps the most soloistic, providing punctuations and interaction with the rest of the ensemble.

[[John Wilmarth]] provides a wealth of performance notes that will ease the mind of non-percussionist directors, such as which parts can be omitted, instrument substitutions, and permission to modify any parts to meet the needs of individual students. Pedagogy aside, the fact that this short piece (2:30) can be subjected to so many different approaches and still maintain its listenability and integrity is a testament to the composer’s craftsmanship.

— by Jason Baker <ref>Percussive Notes Volume 59 No. 1, February 2021 </ref>

==Reference==

[[Category: Percussion Ensemble Works]]
[[Category: Percussion 14 Works]]