IV for Percussion Ensemble

IV for Percussion Ensemble, other wise known as IV, by German composer Johanna Magdalena Beyer is a work for percussion ensemble that involves the use of nine different playing surfaces.[1] Each of these playing surfaces are to be chosen by the ensemble director. All other aspects of the work, including dynamics, rhythms, articulations, and, to an extent, tempo, are defined.[2]

Instrumentation

IV is scored for nine different playing surfaces. These surfaces are not defined by the composer. The director of the ensemble performing this work will choose instrumentation that works best with each other for this piece.[2]

Analysis

The time signature is 7/8, and one player has an ostinato eighth-note rhythm controlling all tempo and major dynamic changes. This piece uses rhythms, dynamics, and accents to build structure, and shows an exposition, rise, climax, and resolution using pyramids of voices. The rhythmic structure of IV is complex because each time a rhythm repeats, another rhythm crosses it, and continues to add crossed rhythms until the midway point of the section, where the cross rhythms uncross themselves and starts again. This pattern happens a total of six times. Performance time for this piece is about 2 minutes and 15 seconds.[2]

Performances

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County Percussion Ensemble performed this piece with the following instrumentation as chosen by Professor Tom Goldstein: bongos; tam-tam; low-tom; high-tom; china cymbal; crash cymbal; timbale; snare drum; and wood block.

Composition

Published in 1936, IV was one of the first major works for percussion ensemble, and the only work published during Beyer's lifetime.[3] It is unknown why Beyer chose the title "IV". Beyer's compositional style focuses on experimental music and American contemporary music, which includes new music, atonal music, music with chance operations, and music for percussion. Beyer emigrated from Germany to New York City at a time when interest in new music was starting to grow rapidly. Beyer surrounded herself with people such as Henry Cowell, John Cage, and Charles Seeger, and studied music composition with them.[4] Cowell was an innovative composer, using abnormal playing techniques to create new sounds from instruments, and Beyer took Cowell's percussion class at The New School, where Cowell's influence may have been her starting point for creating music for percussion ensemble. Beyer is one of the first composers to focus on music for percussion ensemble, and popularized the concept of music for percussion ensemble with IV as well as other of her many later works for percussion.

Other percussion ensemble works by Johanna Beyer
  • Percussion Suite in 3 Movements
  • Waltz for Percussion
  • Percussion, Opus 14
  • March for 30 Percussion instruments
  • Three Movements for Percussion

[5]

References
  1. Kennedy, John. [johnkennedymusic.com. http://johnkennedymusic.com/writings/total-eclipse-the-life-of-johanna-magdalena-beyer/ "Total Eclipse: The Life of Johanna Magdalena Beyer by John Kennedy"] Check |url= value (help). johnkennedymusic. johnkennedymusic.com. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  2. Beyer, Johanna (1996). IV: Nonet for Percussion. Baltimore: Smith Publications.
  3. Hiser, Kelly. ""An Enduring Cycle": Revaluing the Life and Music of Johanna Beyer". scholarlyrepository.miami.edu. University of Miami. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  4. Beal, Amy. "How Johanna Beyer Spent Her Days" (PDF). music.ucsc.edu. music.ucsc.edu. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  5. "List of Works". Frog Peak Music: Johanna Beyer List of Works. Frog Peak Music. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
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