Thunderclap

Description

Thunderclap is a Body Percussion piece written for percussion quartet, composed for SoundStruck Percussion. The parts can be doubled or tripled as the director sees fit and the performers are encouraged to add a bit of theatricality and movement.

This piece involves the playing of one’s body as an instrument. The concept of body percussion explores the use of a very versatile percussion instrument that you play every day. For musicians, this piece is short, easy to setup, exciting for the crowd, a bit of a workout, fun to play and a challenge.

There are 5 major sounds: Stomp, Patsch (thigh), Chest hit, Clap and Click, and the performers are encouraged to add vocalizations.

Because it is such a physical piece, I would encourage the performers to add in choreography and to exercise the power of choice in terms of sticking (‘handings’ and ‘footings’) and the choice between standing and sitting. The performers may also experiment with visual mediums like talcum powder and other sound choices like using toy hammers instead of hands and choosing extremely thick shoes. Also take into consideration your chosen venue in the context of foot stomps, it may be wise to form a little stage, or even to mic the performance.