Caliente Christmas
General Info
Year of Published: 2014
Publisher: Tapspace
Difficulty: Advanced
Duration: 00:08:10
Cost: $48.00
Instrumentation
Player 1: Glockenspiel & Caxixi
Player 2: Xylophone & Shekere
Player 3: Vibraphone
Player 4: Marimba 1 & Wind Chimes (Medium Tube)
Player 5: Marimba 2 & Woodblock
Player 6: Timpani & Claves & Shaker (Large)
Player 7: Drumset & Woodblock
Player 8: Gong & Temple Block & 2 Suspended Cymbal & Bongos & Bass Drum with Cymbal attachment
Player 9: Triangle & Tambourine & Congas & Wind Chimes (High Tube)
Player 10: Chimes & Claves & Castanets & Shaker (Small) & Wind Chimes (Large Tube)
Program Notes
Caliente Christmas is a Latin-tinged percussion ensemble piece for 10–11 players featuring a medley of Good King Wenceslas in odd-metered variations, an ethereal and relaxed Silent Night, and an Afro-Cuban version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. This piece was commissioned by the Charlotte Symphony for their annual Christmas concert in 2005 and premiered by the UNCC percussion ensemble at that event.
The piece opens with a simple 7/4 bas line performed by the slapaphone (or bass marimba) and is soon joined by several hand percussion instruments playing different counter rhythms. The mallet section enters with the Good King Wenceslas melody presented in two variations.
After an exhuberant conclusion to this opening section, a rendition of Silent Night occurs. A combination of tubular wind chimes, song bells and bowed vibraphone creates an ethereal atmosphere here, followed by a relaxed groove treatment.
An Afro-CUban version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen follows, employing a folkoric groove called Guaguanco. An extended vibraphone solo segues to the melody as well as bongo and conga solos. Here the grooves alternates between the Cuban rhythms of Mozambique and Songo.
The piece close with a "heavy metal" percussion section and a klezmer style return to the Good King Wenceslas melody.