Soda Song 2

Duration: 4 minutes

Difficulty: ★★★☆☆

Premiere: 2021.03.02

Players: (1) 5 Soda Cans + Electronic Playback

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About “SodaSong 2”

The sequel to “SODASONG”, “SODASONG 2” is a solo for multi-percussion + electronic playback.

Since many schools continue to remain closed in early 2021 (due to COVID-19), “SODASONG 2” was designed for percussionists to play with materials found throughout their homes.

While originally composed for 5 soda cans, “SODASONG 2” can be performed on any collection of five objects (glass bottles, plates, paint cans, tom-toms, etc).

“SODASONG” is a great piece for students with limited access to instruments and for students interested in or looking to explore multi-percussion and electro-acoustic music.

Beauty & Ruin

Duration: 8:36

Difficulty: ★★★★☆

Released: 2020

Players: (3) 2 percussionists + electric guitar

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(written for Neil McNulty + Jean Carlo Ureña Gonzalez

About “Beauty & Ruin”

“BEAUTY & RUIN” is a trio for two percussionists + electric guitar to be performed as three attacca movements.

The two multi-percussion setups are identical, but Player 3’s instruments should be lower in pitch. Each setup includes: (1) snare drum [drum kit or concert], (1) floor tom [or kick drum mounted so that the batter head is facing upwards], (1) metal object.

While not specified in the score, the electric guitarist should feel free to include effects (ex. overdrive, chorus, delay, etc.) as they see fit.

Structurally, “BEAUTY & RUIN” is inspired by the percussion music of Steve Reich: three attacca movements organized as ‘fast-slow-fast.’ Musically, “BEAUTY & RUIN” is inspired by the music of Steve Reich and by 1990’s alternative rock music – specifically that of Dinosaur Jr., Sugar, and Bob Mould. The title, “BEAUTY & RUIN,” is also a reference to Bob Mould’s 2014 album of the same name.

The two percussion parts create a stereo effect throughout much of the piece, so it is recommended that the percussion setups are staged facing each other with the electric guitarist between them, facing the audience.

“BEAUTY & RUIN” is great for students looking for a dramatic chamber piece that blurs the line between contemporary percussion and alternative rock music.

*guitar sheet music is included as both Guitar Tab + Standard Notation

Soda Song

Duration: 4 minutes

Difficulty: ★★★☆☆

Released: 2020.04.04

Players: (1) 5 Soda Cans

Purchase PDF Sheet Music

dedicated to the University of Michigan Percussion Studio

About “SodaSong”

“SODASONG” was written in April of 2020 after a conversation with Doug Perkins. Since most of the United States was under lockdown (due to COVID-19), many percussionists and students found themselves without access to instruments owned by schools and universities.

“SODASONG” was written as a multi-percussion solo designed for percussionists to play with materials found throughout their homes. While originally composed for 5 soda cans, “SODASONG” can be performed on any five pitched objects (glass bottles, plates, paint cans, tom-toms, etc).

Structurally, “SODASONG” switches between duple-meter and triple-meter sections, each with their own melodic themes.

“SODASONG” is a great piece for students with limited access to instruments and for students interested in or looking to explore multi-percussion music.

Thank you to Neil McNulty, Ancel Neeley, Pete Nichols, Doug Perkins, Hohner Porter, Johnathan Rickard, Chris Sies, Sui Lin Tam + Daniel Vila for being a part of the #SodaSong digital world premiere on April 14th, 2020.

video by Doug Perkins
video by Chris Sies