Timpani Forces

Mendel Lee

General Info

Year: 2013
Publisher: Tapspace Publications
Difficulty: Advanced
Duration: 00:17:00
Cost: Score and Parts - $22.00   |   Score Only - $0.00

Movements

Movement 1: Rising, Falling
Movement 2: Explosition
Movement 3: Pendulum
Movement 4: Momentum

Instrumentation

Timpani

Program Notes

With Timpani Forces, Mendel Lee has crafted a four-movement, virtuosic tour de force for solo timpani. While it doesn’t lack for rhythmic virtuosity—particularly in the second movement, Explosion—its attention to melodic and lyrical content and the creative use of glissandi result in a unique addition to the repertoire. The included performance notes and a performer-friendly page layout aid in preparation.

Review

"Composer Mendel Lee’s stated goal was to “write solo timpani literature that placed more emphasis on melodic and lyrical content rather than percussive and rhythmic virtuosity. ” Bravo, on that count! As much as I love timpani, much of the solo timpani literature leaves a lot to be desired. This four-movement piece makes a valiant effort, and there are some excellent ideas. The first movement, “Rising, Falling, ” begins with strummed stacked fifths, adds some canon or pedal point, and gradually changes the chord by a half or whole step. The second movement, “Explosion, ” is a perpetual motion in sixteenth notes between the inner two drums, with the outer drums gradually moving in contrary motion, again by half steps. The third movement, “Pendulum, ” is based on two-part counterpoint, moving mainly in glissandi, and there is interesting use of what amounts to slow pedal trills. The fourth movement, “Momentum, ” again in stacked fifths with half-step alternations, veers dangerously close to being just percussive and rhythmic, but provides a dramatic finish. The primary drawbacks here are that the piece is 17 minutes long, and the melodic content is rather limited, even for timpani." by William Moersch

Works for Percussion by this Composer

Percussion Solo Works

Timpani Forces - Timpani

Percussion Ensemble Works

The Spaces Between - 4 Players
Moon of Eris - 4 Players

Mallet Percussion Ensemble Works

Polarities - 2 Players

With Other Instrument Works

Remnants of the Sunken Cathedral - Electric Guitar & Marimba
Remembrance - Alto Voice; Vibraphone & Piano
The Other Path - Clarinet; Cello; Piano; Chimes; Glockenspiel & Vibraphone