Bolado

Inspired by a trip to El Salvador and the white knuckle ride from the airport to the center of town, Bolado perfectly captures the fast-pace changing of lanes, quick maneuvers to avoid oncoming traffic and pedestrians, and the dance-like movement of the other cars on the road.

Program Notes

Bolado is a piece written for large percussion ensemble. This piece was written after a trip to El Salvador and the white knuckle ride from the airport to the center of town. The fast-pace changing of lanes, quick maneuvers to avoid oncoming traffic and pedestrians, and the dance-like movement of the other cars on the road can all be heard in the piece. The B section of the piece is inspired by a brief stop at a traffic light in a poor section of town. The people who reside in this shanty section of town used found metals, glass, and wood to construct their make-shift shelters for the evening. The slow and lamenting section is topped off by the sounds of metals and wood ostinatos in the rhythm section that are meant to represent the construction of these shacks. Suddenly, the car zooms off again toward the city center as we hear a reprise of the main theme. This piece is meant to incorporate percussion instruments that are found in most high schools and middle schools.

Grade Level: 3
Copyright: 2016
Number of Players: 11-12
Duration: 3:30
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Category: Percussion

Listen to Recordings

Instrumentation

Bells
Vibraphone
Xylophone 1
Xylophone 2 (or Marimba played one octave higher)
Marimba 1 (4-octave)
Marimba 2 (4.3-octave)
Congas, Crash Cymbal & Large Triangle
Cajon, Cymbal Stack & Small Triangle

Percussion 1 (High-Hat, Ride Cymbal, China Cymbal, 3 Toms, Snare Drum)
Percussion 2 (Hi-Hat, Ride Cymbal, Splash Cymbal, Metals, Cymbal Stack)
Percussion 3 (Shaker, Hi-Hat, Ride Cymbal, China Cymbal, 3 Toms, Snare Drum)
Electric Bass (optional)