Contents are Flammable…For Steve Reich

I am excited to announce that my tribute to Steve Reich titled, Contents are Flammable has just been published through Bachovich Music Publications.  Thanks to my friend, Andrew Beall, for making this piece available to the world and I look forward to hearing many interpretations of it.  
 
To Steve Reich, thank you for the inspiration.  Dr. Bruce Reiprich exposed me to your music when I was a freshman at Wilkes College and it has brought great joy to me ever since. With gratitude I dedicate Contents are Flammable to you!
 
Of the numerous performances that Contents are Flammable has enjoyed, there are three that I would like to mention:
 

1. John Brennan & the Plano East Percussion staff took a fun approach to it as they entered the stage wearing HazMat costumes.
2. Ben Hans & the Wisconsin Lutheran College programed it on a concert where they invited me to perform with the students.  Challenging and fun to say the least!
3. David Smith & Western Connecticut State University took it “on the road.”  They performed it at their percussion ensemble concert, at the Connecticut Day of Percussion and at the USARD rudimental drumming convention.  They also have the best video recording which can be viewed here:                      https://vimeo.com/131907052

 
Thank you so much to the students at all three schools, as well as everybody else who has programed it.  My dream is to hear Contents are Flammable reincarnated with multiple instrument set ups as it can be performed a variety of ways.  
 

• The original intent...5 rope snare drums. 
• Use 5 snare drums of different sizes and pitch.
• Perform the piece on 1 snare drum, toms and bass drums.
• Try performing on woodblocks, cowbells or any instruments you desire.
• Add to the number of drummers. Line the ensemble up with Drum 1 on the right and Drum 5 on the left. Then add four or five additional drummers to the right of Drum 1 creating a mirror image of the left side. Expand or alter this based on the size of your group.
• Create different effects by spreading the drummers out in a recital or concert hall to create rudimental surround sound.

 
         Contents are Flammable is truly more than just a piece to program on your concert.  This can be a semester long project of developing flam rudiments in any drum or percussion studio at the high school, college or professional level, and I would LOVE the opportunity to join you and your students for a clinic/master class helping to prepare it for a concert.  
 
To Purchase the score and parts, please visit my friends at Bachovich Music Publications and order it today.
  http://bachovich.com/music/1058
 
And if you’d like to have me join you to work on Contents are Flammable, as well as any other traditional or “not-so-traditional” rudimental drumming, contact me at thefifeanddrumguy@gmail.com or give me a call.  Let’s set something up right away and make music the way it is supposed to be...FUN!!!!!
 
 

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