West Winds

Brian Blume

General Info

Year of Published: 2020
Publisher: Tapspace
Level: Elementary
Duration: 00:04:00
Cost: $38.00

Instrumentation

Player 1: Glockenspiel
Player 2: Xylophone & Triangle
Player 3: Vibraphone
Player 4: Marimba 1
Player 5: Marimba 2
Player 6: Timpani
Player 7: Djembe & Wind Chimes
Player 8: Suspended Cymbal & Tom Tom
Player 9: Wind Chimes & Mark Tree & Tambourine
Player 10: Suspended Cymbal & Bass Drum

Description

Composed during the transition of spring to summer, Brian Blume’s percussion ensemble piece West Winds is inspired by the mild and gentle winds that usher in a new season. In this piece, Blume utilizes different percussive effects like clusters of various wind chimes, mark trees, and suspended cymbals to create the illusion of wind sounds. As a contrast to this ambient and lyrical music, the piece also features a very deep groove with tom-toms and a djembe part creating rhythmic interest throughout.

Review

“West Winds” is inspired by the European tradition that associates winds from the west with positive changes in one’s life. This is reflected not only in the simple, uplifting melodies and harmonies used throughout the work, but also in circumstances in the composer’s life associated with moving to a new state and starting a new job.

The orchestration is neatly organized into keyboard percussion, timpani, and non-pitched percussion, allowing for participation from a wide variety of students. The keyboard percussion parts consist primarily of quarter and eighth notes, with occasional small groupings of patternistic sixteenths. At tempos of quarter note equaling 80 and 96, this should be achievable by younger students, especially as rhythms are often reinforced in other voices.

The most ear-catching passages include the use of a djembe. Blume does not dive too deeply in explaining sounds, but instead uses staff notation to indicate basic “edge,” “center,” and “slap” techniques. This is presumably to keep the part from becoming intimidating for less experienced players; however he states in the preface that players who are more comfortable with the instrument can improvise in various sections.

Percussion parts are largely eighth- and quarter-note based, with occasional sixteenth- note fragments that reinforce similar rhythms in the keyboard percussion voices.

Overall, this work would be appropriate for an advanced middle school, beginning high school, honor band percussion ensemble, or even a sight-reading session for a younger college group. The layers of security that the composer builds into the orchestration, along with the pleasant tonalities throughout, will provide a positive experience for all involved.

Works for Percussion by this Composer

Marimba Solo

Like a Burden too Heavy
Stretch
Three Pieces for Marimba (Blume)
Unforced Rhythms
Winterludes

Snare Drum Solo

Kids These Days
Strands of Time

Multiple Percussion Solo

Psalm 104

Mallets Duet

Songs of Eden
Winterludes for Two

Percussion Ensemble

Alarm!
Black Racer
Detour
Friction
Hit It!
Persistence
Scenes from the Woods
Take Two
Under the Influence
West Winds