"Nature Scenes" for Percussion Ensemble by Jack Yagerline

"Nature Scenes" is a three-part soundscape for flexible instrumentation percussion ensemble. The players are given many short phrases and asked to improvise on these phrases, creating a complex and always changing texture.
I. Sky (Midnight): 0:00
II. Forest (Evening): 4:53
III. Ocean (Chorale): 12:36
The first movement, "Sky (Midnight)" depicts the sereneness of a clear midnight sky, yet also the complexity of sounds and sights that can be experienced in nature in the middle of the night. The players in this movement are given many short musical fragments to improvise sparely on, creating a complex and random collective sound.
The second movement, "Forest (Evening)" depicts how the forest and woods come to life as the sun is setting. The music captures the much activity that is happening from the ground all the way up to the top of the trees. The players in this movement are given rhythmic phrases to improvise on over a common pulse, where the effect is a constant stream of notes coming from all around the ensemble. The random and complex texture is interrupted by moments where the whole ensemble comes together in unison briefly, before moving on to more complex improvised patterns.
The third movement, "Ocean (Chorale)" is a slow-building chorale that depicts the ocean as the sun rises over the horizon. The music in this movement is simple, and can be played by any group of pitched instruments, and slowly rises and falls over the course of its duration, and is reminiscent of waves crashing onto a shore. This chorale is also a melancholy reference to the damage that is being done to our planet and its species. "Nature Scenes" as a whole is both a celebration of nature, but also a reminder that our natural world may not survive if we continue its destruction.
Performed by the JMU Percussion Ensemble on March 2, 2022.
Audio by Tom Carr
Stream "Nature Scenes" on any streaming service you use, including Spotify and Apple Music!
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[@benmillesen]

okay !

[@flinxsnicopert]

Man, it makes me wonder how much process can take on a song and sustain it in a different way, in your own way. this is magically different. a great little exploration of what you did here.

[@jackyagerlinemusic5117]

I’m glad you enjoyed it! :)