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An advanced snare drum piece based on the Scottish march style, this piece can be performed as a solo or duet with accompanying bass drum. This piece is the second unapologetic love letter to Scottish pipe drumming in this collection. The underlying meter is a lumbering 4/4, decorated with a wide swing feel on the 16th note. This swing should be maintained strongly throughout the piece, giving it a satisfying and characteristic lilt.

The Highland Sling

Snare Drum Solo

An advanced piece for snare drum in the contemporary march style, from the book Contemporary Marches for Snare Drum.

The time signature of this piece represents two primary beats to the bar, each containing nine 16th notes. Those nine 16th notes are themselves divided into three groups of three, such that an underlying dotted 8th note pulse is present. There were many ways in which I could have presented this piece, but the two groups of nine most closely represents how I built the snare drum's phrasing.

To this end, the best approach is to turn to the layered subdivisions. Firstly, we can feel two primary beats, each with nine strokes. This larger division informed the overall musical content for each bar, including the accent placements. Within this, we can feel three groups of three  three dotted 8th notes  per beat, a subdivision supported by the bass drum. Once this metric foundation can be strongly felt, the phrasing within the piece should make sense.

The unusual metric context of this piece meant that I had to consider how best to present the tempo. I settled on the dotted 8th note, as this had the stronger underlying pulse in terms of how we might set the metronome. With dotted 8th notes at 170bpm, we should strive to feel three 16th notes per click, combining to form the two larger groups of nine per bar.

Main Battery

Format

The Snare Drum Virtuoso is a collection of technical studies, pieces, and etudes, designed to develop all aspects of snare drum technique. Challenging vocabulary is applied across focused musical studies to allow the student to engage with the techniques in musically applicable ways. Rather than simply repeating patterns without context, the student will discover and develop their own technique through exposure to the vocabulary and its musical applications. This book represents some of the most advanced snare drum study material available today.

76 Technical studies addressing:
- Fundamental motions
- Singles
- Doubles
- Diddles
- Buzz Strokes
- Acciaccatura Strokes
- Rudimental vocabulary
- North-American Traditional
- French Traditional
- Polyrhythms, meters, tuplets, nested rhythms,  and subdivisions
- Orchestral vocabulary
- Engaging and improving the non-dominant hand

"Once again Curtis demonstrates a systematic understanding of key aspects of his field of study and without doubt should be considered at the forefront of his artform.
This book presents critical arguments for analysis, and the reader without doubt will extend their knowledge and understanding whilst developing methods and techniques that will help them become a Snare Drum Virtuoso in their own right."

    - Paul Hose, CEO of MLC Group, and Music and Diploma Examiner

"It is no secret that Jonathan Curtis is one of the most dedicated drummers out there today. It should, therefore, come as no surprise that a new study book from him demonstrates once again the full extent of his indelible devotion to helping us all to further the art form. While distinctly aimed at furthering our technical prowess on the snare drum, there are no attempts here to impose upon us any kind of grip, hand movement, or any other motion-based rules that may not be suitable to each individual (and may actually stifle progression through forced application). Instead, the vast content provides a progressively challenging set of works that will stimulate us to cultivate and actualise the nuances of movement required to correctly produce the final results at their given tempo.

Backed up by extensive commentary on the different styles, approaches, and their historical backgrounds to underline the raison d'etre behind the studies, The Snare Drum Virtuoso is a truly seminal piece of educational work."

    - Rob Hirons, MLC Academy Marseilles,

"Wow, got my copy sharpish today and it's everything I hoped it would be. Really well written, fantastic explanations, a pragmatic approach to technique and some challenging pieces to get my reading and technical chops to another level. I know I'm going to be enjoying this book for years to come. Thanks Jonathan, a really impressive and thoughtful piece of work. Can't recommend it highly enough if you're an intermediate/advanced player who's interested in the instrument and want to fine tune your skills. Brilliant!"

    - Al Hackney, Drummer

The Snare Drum Virtuoso

Snare Drum Book

24 Permutations is an advanced etude from The Snare Drum Virtuoso, based
  on mathematical phrasing ideas. The permutations refer to the ordering of an
  accent phrase which is permutated 24 times throughout the piece. Featuring a
  steady pulse that gradually builds in intensity, measured roll combinations
  are employed in degrees of complexity to the culmination of the piece. The
  piece requires a high degree of control and dexterity to effectively
  articulate the sticking ideas, and will provide a fun and rewarding challenge
  for advanced players.

24 Permutations

Snare Drum Score

Cancrizans is an advanced etude from the book The Snare Drum Virtuoso.
  Exploring a combination of American, French, and original vocabulary, it
  combines, dense and complex phrasing with a subtlety of dynamics and a steady
  tempo. The player will explore the use of unusual tuplets, frise
  combinations, and faster, more dense segments that will test the control and
  articulation of even seasoned players.

Cancrizans

Numinous Measure is an advanced snare drum solo in the unusual time
  signature of 15/16. This is to express the meter comprising three groups of
  five 16th notes per measure, creating a unique and driving pulse. The use of
  accents and intricate nested figures allows for a rhythmically diverse piece,
  that provides an interesting challenge to even seasoned players.

Numinous Measure

Veda is an advanced exploration for solo snare drum. Featuring complex,
  dense, and original rhythmic vocabulary within a chant-like context, Veda
  seeks to invoke a sense of meditative exploration and sudden
  enlightenment.
    
    
    
    Composed around a vedic chanting structure and written in conjunction with
  Joseph Tompkins, it is the twin of another piece, Jata Path, based on the
  same concept. Veda is played with the snares off, and begins as a slow, quiet
  piece, but expands and builds into an explosive finale that requires a high
  degree of technical excellence, and will provide an interesting and
  worthwhile challenge for the seasoned snare drummer.
    
    
    
    This piece is part of a collection called Snare Drum Compositions - Volume
  I. More information can be found at the composer's website:
  www.jonathancurtis.co.uk/snaredrumcompositions

Veda

This beautiful collection of pieces contains a suite of four duets for
  snare drum and marimba.
    
    
    
    Composed around mathematical and process-based concepts, the pieces are
  musically enjoyable, whilst presenting a significant challenge for the
  performers.
    
    
    
    Featuring marimba work from virtuoso Alex Smith, who contributed
  compositional ideas and performance notes to the compositions.
    
    
    
    Play-Along tracks for each part are available at the composer's website:
  www.JonathanCurtis.co.uk/musicboxsuite

The Music Box Suite

Percussion Book

This advanced study follows a numerical approach to composition. It
  features rich, original, and complex rhythmic phrasing that requires a high
  degree of dexterity and control. The slow tempo allows for the creative use
  of dense figures, while the extensive use of French frise figures will
  challenge the most seasoned players. As this piece was the favourite of Joe
  Tompkins, who consulted on its composition, it is dedicated to him.

Jata Path

A fast, frenetic, and deep solo utilising a strong rhythmic theme and
  employing complex, original vocabulary. The structure of Ishvara is derived
  from the ratha path (aa aa) of Vedic chant, something which we also
  see explored in Jata Path and Veda. These Hindu chant structures give methods
  for practitioners to recite sacred text in a way which encourages
  memorisation.
    
    
    
    In 12/8, a strong sextuple pulse is retained throughout, with many of the
  figures building on this underlying 16th note grid. The main phrase,
  beginning in the first measure, is built around the position of the accents
  and the rolls. This is an advanced piece that requires a strong technique and
  sustained focus to get through all 55 bars.

Ishvara

This piece is something of an oddity within a collection of marches, both
  in terms of its time signature and its phrasing. Loosely based off
  traditional waltz figures, it explores themes of using density to express
  simple ideas. The opening four measures are particularly dense in the notes
  that are played, yet if one follows the accents, relatively simple in its
  main theme. The main challenge, therefore, is to express that density with
  enough finesse, and the accents with enough contrast to the surrounding
  notes, that that simple theme comes through.

La Volta

Snare Drum Duet

This piece is something of a tour de force of ternary phrasing. The
  lively 12/8 meter is subverted by syncopated accent phrases from the very
  beginning, with polyrhythmic accent patterns flowing over the barline of many
  passages. Despite this, performers should try to maintain a strong ternary
  feel, with three 8th notes for each dotted quarter note of the bar. The
  accent figures themselves only really make sense within this context, so if
  too much emphasis is given to the syncopation at the cost of the underlying
  meter, the effect is lost.

Stunning Riposte

From "Contemporary Marches for Snare Drum", Coldstream Dance is
  the first of two pieces in this collection that are inspired by the Scottish
  tradition. Based on a bouncy 16th note swing rhythm, it is informed by
  Scottish pipe drum repertoire like Black Bear, Scotland the Brave, and Green
  Hills of Tyrol. Though not strictly of the same nature as those pieces,
  Coldstream Dance draws heavily from them in terms of the vocabulary it
  employs and the rhythmic themes it expresses.

Coldstream Dance

The second volume of this collection expands and builds upon the concepts and ideas presented in the first, adding a three-part percussive accompaniment to bring the snare drum into an ensemble context. The pieces follow an aesthetic theme of meditation, which informed their structure, vocabulary, use of sound, and naming conventions. Each piece seeks to convey a particular idea or ambience, whilst also retaining musical coherence.

The pieces are challenging, and combing cutting-edge contemporary vocabulary with traditional rudimental repertoire, and contain elements of orchestral, French, pipe, and rudimental traditions.

The book contains full scores for the snare drum and three accompanyists, as well as extended essays that cover compositional analysis, theory, and performance notes.

Snare Drum Compositions Volume 2

Steel Pan Ensemble

This collection features ten original compositions for snare drum, with optional bass drum accompaniment allowing the pieces to be played as duets. Funded by Arts Council England, these compositions explore the march format, and provide a fun and challenging selection for advanced practioners. The book features ten solo scores, bass drum accompaniment scores, performance notes, compositional analysis, and an essay discussing the march format and the concepts employed. Video performances of nine of the ten pieces are available, and play-along tracks featuring the bass drum parts are freely avilable online for those wishing to play the duets without a partner.

Contemporary Marches for Snare Drum

Requisite Precision is a challenging snare drum solo with bass drum accompaniment. The accents are syncopated against the meter, with the snare and bass drum parts alternating between conmplementing and contrasting the emphatic underlying pulse. This piece has a strong, driving theme with virtuosic elements for the advanced snare drummer.

Requisise Precision

Port Cruinn is a lively jig in 6/8 for solo snare drum with optional bass drum accompaniment. A strong marching pulse is punctuated by rapid rolls and drag figures that emphasise the 6/8 meter. The speed and dense vocabulary provide a fun a lively challenge for advanced players.

Port Cruinn

Hotspur is a fast, lively march for solo snare drum with optional bass drum accompaniment. Utilising rapid rolls and a strong pulse, the unusual use of tuplets will provide a fun challenge for the advanced drummer.

Hotspur

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