LOGAN SCOTT
tapspace.com
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TSPCE26-007
PROGRAM NOTES
Cardinal was composed in the fall of 2024 around the concept of “directional percussion.” This is in reference to the four primary voices of the ensemble: bass drum, snare/tom, hand drums, and small cymbal stacks. It was only a coincidence that the setup somewhat resembles a compass. The music chooses from these “directions” when constructing phrases but constantly evolves into different variations that branch off into “sub-cardinal” directions. This takes the listener on an engaging journey despite the limited instrumentation.
The four movements are named after the four main cardinal directions found on a compass: South, East, North, and West. Each movement takes minor and major influence from the different musical cultures associated with their respective hemisphere of the planet. Not only does the piece present quite a challenge for the players, but it provides an engaging audio and visual experience for audience members.
—Logan Scott
PERFORMANCE NOTES
• Use a multi-percussion “swizzle” stick with either a rubber or felt end.
• Note the tuning of the drums listed in the instrumentation key, as this is important for how the drums are frequently used to play off of each other and create split melodic phrases. The same should be considered for the cymbal stacks—the pitch should descend from Player 1 to Player 4. Feel free to experiment with different timbres and sounds.
• The shared impact drum is used to create three different sounds: rim clicks, a semi-bass hit halfway across the head, and large impacts played directly in the center. These sounds should be distinguished from each other.
• I recommend placing towels on the front half of the snare drums in order to dry up the otherwise overpowering sound.
• Double-headed toms should be used if possible to create the deeper, more tribal sound I was after.
• Written stickings often serve both functional and visual purposes, but they are only recommendations.
Cardinal is a playing and logistical challenge but one that is a lot of fun to put together!
PLAYERS AND INSTRUMENTATION
Cardinal requires 4 players with the following instrumentation:
Player 1 — high splash stack, bongos (tuned higher), medium-high tom, shared impact drum
Player 2 — medium splash stack, bongos (tuned lower), medium-high snare drum, shared impact drum
Player 3 — medium-low splash stack, congas (tuned higher), medium-low tom, shared impact drum
Player 4 — low splash stack, congas (tuned lower), medium-low snare drum, shared impact drum
