Shattered Illusions

$50.00

Commissioned by the Springtown High School Percussion Ensemble (Rachel Garza, Director) for performance at the 2024 Music For All National Festival, Shattered Illusions is a new work for Percussion Orchestra.

The piece delves into the transformative power of facing adversity, urging listeners to find beauty in life’s challenges by viewing them from fresh perspectives. Through constant textural changes, the piece symbolizes how each challenge and joy is interconnected, inviting performers and listeners alike to appreciate every evolving moment.

Personnel: 13 players

Duration: 5:20

Difficulty: Medium-Advanced

Composed: 2024

Commission: Springtown High School Percussion Ensemble (TX)

Commissioned by the Springtown High School Percussion Ensemble (Rachel Garza, Director) for performance at the 2024 Music For All National Festival, Shattered Illusions is a new work for Percussion Orchestra.

The piece delves into the transformative power of facing adversity, urging listeners to find beauty in life’s challenges by viewing them from fresh perspectives. Through constant textural changes, the piece symbolizes how each challenge and joy is interconnected, inviting performers and listeners alike to appreciate every evolving moment.

Personnel: 13 players

Duration: 5:20

Difficulty: Medium-Advanced

Composed: 2024

Commission: Springtown High School Percussion Ensemble (TX)

Program Notes

Shattered Illusions explores the challenges of adversity. We often hold these experiences so intensely that we forget to question our beliefs about them. Many aspects of life carry this danger. However, the conversation doesn’t stop there; there is beauty in looking at things through a kaleidoscope or from a different perspective. Even amid a so-called “negative” experience, there are often beautiful moments to appreciate. You can easily find these by being open to changing your perspective. I like to think we grow the most from our biggest challenges and failures. Best of all, we become better versions of ourselves by respecting them.

In the piece, constant textural changes represent this phenomenon. Performers are challenged to transfigure one idea into the next through various related rhythms, chords, or even mallet/implement changes. Each new section represents a new perspective on the moment at hand. This demonstrates how every part of life’s challenges and joys is indeed connected. These dense moments should be appreciated, and I believe we are very lucky to experience them.

- Brandon Cummings

Instrumentation

Chimes, Ocean Drum

Bells

Vibraphone 1

Vibraphone 2

Xylophone, Crotales

Marimba 1 (4.0 octave)

Marimba 2 (4.3 octave)

Marimba 3 (4.3 octave)

Marimba 4 (5.0 octave)

Timpani (4 drums), Suspended Cymbal

Percussion 1 - Ride Cymbal, Suspended Cymbal, Splash Cymbal, Sizzle Cymbal, Low Tom, Snare Drum, Wind Chimes, Bell Tree, Ceramics

Percussion 2 - Impact Bass Drum, Suspended Cymbal, Garden Weasel, Gong (shared w/ P3), Wind Chimes (shared w/ P3), Ceramics

Percussion 3 - Sizzle Cymbal, China Cymbal, Splash Cymbal, Suspended Cymbal, Concert Bass Drum, Gong (Shared w/ P2), Wind Chimes (Shared w/ P2), 3 Triangles, Brake Drum, Ceramics

Performances

Springtown High School Percussion Ensemble, Rachel Garza, conductor - Music For All National Festival 2024 - 3/4/2024 (World Premier)

Texas Christian University Percussion Orchestra, Dr. Brian A. West, conductor - Texas Christian University Music Center - 10/29/2024

Aledo High School Percussion Ensemble, Scott Stephens, conductor - Percussive Arts Society International Convention (IPEC Showcase Concert) - 11/14/2024

Lafayette High School Percussion Ensemble, Aaron Jones, conductor - Kentucky Music Education Association Conference - 2/7/2025

University of Texas at Arlington Percussion Ensemble, Dr. Andrew Eldridge, conductor - Irons Recital Hall - 4/21/2025