BAMBOO DRAGON Multiple Percussion Solo By Dr. Michael Varner
Bamboo Dragon Instrumentation (Lines given in Treble Cle) Top Sta: Temple Gongs (F,A,C,E), Chinese Opera Gliss Gong (High G), Wood Block (High F), Low Wood block (B) Bottom Sta: Concert Toms (F,A,C,E), Concert Bass Drum (D) Perormance Instructions 1. Use Double Ended Swizzle Sticks 2. Recommended sizes or the concert toms are 10 12 and 1. Avoid using marching instruments or overly tensioned heads. The Symbol Z on the stem o notes reers to a press or buzz roll sound. Diamond Shaped note heads indicate playing on the rim. A Stick Gliss is perormed by playing a single stroke roll and progressively striking up the shat rom close to the ingers to the tip. Make sure to hold the stick loosely.. The verbal calls Huh are notated on the high B line. Use a ull low tone and project.
Suggested Set up Rin Low WoodBlock Opera gong High WoodBlock Toms Bass Drum
2 1 Senza Misura, Freely æ :2 æ p Felt F : j æ. "Rim Gliss." on rims Felt J æ rit. J J Bamboo Dragon F Multiple Percussion Solo æ z z z z z π, Wood : z ^ cresc. J Œ J Copyright Michael Varner 199, Felt æ æ æ Wood P F Presto, ^ c. æ 1 c HUH! 1 ^ ^ ^ ß.. 2. : ^ (at edge o Tom #) j v 2 ƒ Michael Varner 1,,
. 1. p J. 21 27 π. J. ß. P. Bamboo Dragon.. J..... J J. :.. sub. P J... J : c :. sub. P :... : : Copyright Michael Varner 199 c 2
Dr. Michael Varner, Percussionist and Educator Dr. Michael Varner has been Director o Percussion at the University o Texas at Arlington or the past years. He holds a Bachelor o Music Education rom Bowling Green State University, a Master s in Perormance rom The University o Michigan, and a Doctorate in Perormance rom The University o North Texas. Varner released his latest CD in 201 eaturing his own compositions. With a long history as an educator and clinician, he has been invited to give presentations throughout the United States, Japan and Europe ocusing on developing musical expression. In recent past years he has presented by invitation at the European Music Educators Convention held in Frankurt, Germany, and Music Educators National Conventions as well as State Music Education Conventions or Connecticut, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Kansas, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Minnesota He draws rom 0 years experience as a perormer presenting repertoire rom every musical style including Classical, Contemporary, Jazz, and World beat. He brings to each style o music an unequalled sensitivity and exuberance. Doctor Varner recently presented a series o lecture/recital tours throughout Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Dr. Varner's perormances included presentations on Japanese marimba compositions, and a demonstration o the development o solo marimba literature in the late 20th century. Excerpts rom Dr. Varner's tour perormances can be viewed and listened to by podcast at the Vic Firth Website. He has perormed chamber music and studio work in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area including appearances with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. During his time in Michigan he was principal percussionist with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and Principal Timpanist with the Kalamazoo Chamber Orchestra. Dr. Varner has been a member o the UTArlington Honors college aculty since 1996. As the only music aculty member to be an honors college proessor he was chosen as honor aculty member o the year or teaching excellence in 200, the irst year the Honors College named a recipient. He continues to be active nationally in the ield o marching percussion adjudicating and presenting clinics. Under his guidance the UT Arlington drum line has been nationally recognized perorming at numerous marching exhibitions including the 192, 19, 199 and 2000, 200, and 200 Percussive Arts Societies International competitions. He has worked with renowned drum and bugle corps, including the DCI champion Chicago Cavaliers and the Toledo Glassmen. Dr. Varner continues his interest in composition by accepting requent commission rom university and high schools across the United States. He publishes many o his own compositions and has also released works through Southern Music, Studio Four, and Permus Publications. Varner s interest in world music led to a sabbatical in Nigeria and Study-Abroad classes to Ghana. His article Skin That Speaks was published in the 201 Percussive Notes Journal. In 2009 he received a Faculty Development Leave Grant to accept an invitation rom Obaemi Awolowo University in Nigeria to work with their aculty and students. He maintains an Artist relationship with Remo Heads and World Instruments, Vic Firth, Yamaha, and Sabian cymbals. http://www.uta.edu/aculty/mulberry/acover
Ensemble Michael Varner Music Imagined diversions Contemporary Quartet eatures amilies o percussion instruments: membranes (bongos, snare drum, toms, bass drum), metals (suspended cymbals, China cymbal, hi-hat), and woods (claves, woodblocks, temple blocks, log drums). A wide range o colors and textures based around the Rondo orm using as many variants on Seven as possible. Each perormer plays the tambourine giving lots o opportunity or various Tambourine technical work. (TEXAS UIL LIST, CLASS 1 $.00 Kingdom Five Departed A rhythm Poem or 9 Percussionists. A antasy tale written in Percussion sounds, eaturing only Membranophones and Accessories in a Semi-classical vein (TEXAS UIL LIST, CLASS 1) $.00 Arabian Sketches A percussion ensemble or eight players based on dances and rhythms rom the Mid-east. The composition or western percussion instruments eatures the "Doumbek" which is a goblet shaped hand drum. Mid-eastern "Zil" and "Riq" can be substituted or the Finger cymbals and tambourine i desired or a more authentic eect. "Arabian Sketches" captures the "aura" o the abled Mid-east described in novels and legends. Grade players $.00 Tala Experience the unique aspects o Classical Indian music! Based on a rhythmic pattern o twelve beats divided into groupings o and 7 subdivided into 2--2-2-. Written or strictly western instruments, Challenges the ensemble to rhythmic precision and ensemble awareness oering a small taste o the relentless energy o Indian music! Grade 7 players (TEXAS UIL LIST, CLASS 1) $.00 Phantasm III Phantasm III is an imaginary "movie sound track" eaturing the widest possible variety o intriguing sounds and colors. From its irst moment with all perormers exploring every imaginable possibility or suspended cymbal through a inale o spatial sixteenth notes Phantasm III drives orward with relentless energy. Grade 7 players $.00 Celestial Elements" or 7 Percussionists and Snare Drum Soloist Written to spotlight the snare drum, each movement gives the listener a dierent view o musical and tonal capabilities. The movements can be perormed separately. "The best vehicle or showcasing the snare drums sound and color that I have ever experienced." Richard MacDonald, Director o Percussion Studies, Winona State University, Minnesota 1. Earth Relects the orchestral role and sound o the snare drum. Grade $20.00 2. Wind Highlights the sound color aspects o the snare drum. Grade + $20.00. Fire Aggressive "outdoor" character o the snare drum. Grade + $20.00 Sorcery! Orchestral style ensemble with 20th century harmony, and a driving timpani ostinato. (TEXAS UIL ENSEMBLE LIST, CLASS 1) Grade 12 players $0.00 Mushroom Soup A lashy usion composition eaturing bass and drumset with contrasting musical sections. 11 players, bass and drumset Grade $0.00 Soul o the new machine A contemporary ensemble or a younger group, that eatures a wide range o colors and textures. (TEXAS UIL ENSEMBLE LIST, CLASS 1) Grade - 7 players $0.00
Michael Varner Music Solo The Silence Between. Advanced Multiple Percussion Solo written or toms, almglocken, and opera gong. This is a minimalist set up that explores an incredible vocabulary o sounds and eects $2.00 FireStorm Very Advanced snare drum solo taking the marching idiom to new dimensions $11.00 Winds o Change Advanced Concert Snare solo eaturing every imaginable sonic possibility $11.00 Challenging Horizons Snare drum collection o 11 solos progressing rom intermediate to advanced eaturing the latest techniques combined with good musical phrasing. (TEXAS UIL SOLO LIST, CLASS 1) Grade - $12.00 Bamboo Dragon Challenging Multiple percussion solo or concert toms, Bass drum, temple gongs, and wood block. Wide variety o colors, eaturing sections Requiring extensive hand independence...."the sounds o the orient!" (TEXAS UIL SOLO LIST, CLASS 1) Grade $1.00 Counterpane II Advanced snare drum solo highlightig both the visual and excitement o marching percussion. Grade $9.0 Available through your local music store or direct rom: Michael Varner Music University o Texas at Arlington Music Department PO 1910 Arlington, TX 76019 http://www.uta.edu/mvarner/acover