Indoor Marching Percussion

From the Point of Origin (IMP)

Style: Modern | Difficulty: Medium Difficult | Grade: 4 - 5

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At the point where everything begins, there is suspense regarding what comes next. In From the Point of Origin, everything is possible and we can go anywhere into the universe, depending on what direction we take at any particular moment.


A lone snare soloist is quite literally and figuratively the “point” from which everything originates. From the notes that bounce off that single drumhead spreads the message of the show, slowly and then hurriedly heading off to parts unknown. The chase is on for discovery and no one really knows what is going to happen next, as this show is continually full of unsuspected surprises in the form of unique sounds and effects.


Part 1: Motivations explores the inspiration for how things commence and then develop. The melodic and rhythmic lines continually spreading out from the point of origin, connecting in surprising ways with each other and then move forward to discover new ways of connecting with more lines. Visually, you can have the different sections continually connect with each other and break apart to be motivated to reconnect in different combinations, bringing each highlighted motif to the fore at its time of musical connection.


Part 2: Deviations springs forward in different directions as the music strays from the original themes. The Brazilian feel to the beat is accomplished by the use of a pandero hand drum and a captivating snare feature loaded with virtuosic sticking reminiscent of the DCI championship Bridgemen drum lines of the early 1980s. When the movement deviates as far as it can go, it’s time for the big revelation to follow.


Part 3: Revelations starts with a focus on the mallets and prominently creates a simulated digital delay effect that is accomplished entirely acoustically, through the masterful way that the several melodic lines are layered. The revelation here is how this can be done without relying on electronics.


As performed by the original drum line, the mallet performers kept moving their keyboards around the floor to highlight the music spreading out from the point or origin, only to return to the starting point with a single note at the end announcing everything had come full circle.



CREDITS

Composed By: Brian Mason
Published By: Key Poulan Music
Duration: 7:48

MUSIC SAMPLES

Complete Show Recording
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