Dancing Percussion

Dancing Percussion is an extravaganza for percussion ensemble created by conductor composer David Coleman.

Seven elite percussionists will be on stage with an eclectic array of well known and more unusual instruments.

The snare drum leads out and is quickly joined by bass and tenor drums, the majestic congas, and diminutive bongos.  Glockenspiel and Xylophone dance with big brother Vibraphone which is played with beaters and also exotically with the bow of the double bass.

Hear the contributions from the triangle, tubular bells, Indian bells and wind chimes, maracas , castanets, temple blocks, even a whistle stars and of course the cymbals, all reaching a glorious climax with a jazzer’s full drum kit.

Dancing Percussion is a composition in five movements :

Procession – From quiet taps on the snare drum, the big drums gradually join the procession.

Bells – An ethereal soundscape.

Rumba – A full-blooded dance with the spotlight on Vibraphone and Xylophone.

Scherzo – A playful skittish fast moving ’joke’.

Uneven Dance – In 5 time, both composed and improvised. The driving jazz rhythms from the drum kit and finally the full ensemble piling in to make a joyous conclusion.

Dancing Percussion has its first performance and recording on stage at the Hungarian State Opera in Budapest on Friday 28^th June 2024 performed by The Percussion Ensemble of the Hungarian State Opera orchestra, to whom this work is dedicated.

Currently it is also in rehearsal at the Accademia of La Scala in Milan.