Sacrificial Rite

Driving, barbaric rhythms throughout with few moments of serenity. Requires yelling and chanting from all five players (SA-CRI-FIC-I-UM!!).

Program Notes

Sacrificial Rite was written exclusively for Robert Hohner and the Central Michigan University Percussion Ensemble in an effort to increase the repertoire of percussion ensemble works featuring drums. The work is filled with rhythmic and timbral imagery that reflects the pagan ritualistic dance of sacrifice. The work is divided into three continuous sections. The first section exudes a sort of prelude to the sacrificial rite characterized by driving rhythms echoed between the bass drums with a rhythmic ostinato underlay on the hi-hat. The second section is the sacrificial rite itself, containing intense dynamic and timbral variety interspersed with the chanting of the Latin word for sacrifice, SACRIFICIUM. The conclusion is a celebration of the sacrifice characterized by fast tempo, driving rhythms, rampant “wailing” by the bass drums, and some rather haunting chord progressions in the marimba.

Grade Level: 3
Copyright: 1994
Number of Players: 5
Duration: 6:00
Type: Quintet

Listen to Recordings

Instrumentation

Percussion 1 (4 bass drums)
Percussion 2 (4 bass drums, crotales, claves)
Percussion 3 (hi-hat, large tam-tam, 2 log drums)
Percussion 4 (large tam-tam, lion's roar, chimes, brake drum, bongos, suspended cymbal)
Percussion 5 (4.3-octave marimba, tambourine, conga)