Unity Heals

Zachary Morita

General Info

Year of Published: 2024 Publisher: C. Alan Publications Series: IGNITE Series Duration: 00:01:30 Difficulty: Elementary Cost: $29.00

Instrumentation

Part 1: Highest-Pitched Instrument Part 2: Medium-High Part 3: Medium-Low Part 4: Lowest-Pitched Instrument Part 5: Bonus, Clapping is recommended

Any graduated, non-pitched percussive instruments, included found or household item are welcome. Use as many players as you have in your program, if desired, by doubling parts.

Program Notes

Unity Heals was composed for the Hawaii Youth Percussion Ensemble as a way to bring percussionists of diverse backgrounds together in a time when many were confined indoors. The virtual performance of 25 percussionists who ranged from middle schoolers all the way to senior citizens included two sets of mothers-sons, three sets of siblings, public school math teachers, a mix of middle, high, and college band directors, professional percussionists, two private piano teachers, and a nurse. Percussionists were encouraged to use whatever “instruments” they could find at home that resulted in a creative mix of drums, drum pads, textbooks, wooden kitchen utensils, stools, a salsa jar, a water glass, a pillow, and body percussion. The simple rhythms with layered parts make it an accessible piece to perform in both live and virtual settings.