This album is a collection of solos composed over time for my young students.
They contain elements that my students needed at the time, such as:

- first recital after only a few lessons

- triggering motor skills

- connecting with different musical characters and popular music styles

- fresh solos for students with a marching percussion background (West-European tradition)

- student's interest in other styles or composers

- soloist competitions

The album builds up from the most novice player to the medium advanced musician
and offers varied solos were the fun in playing is crucial!

The album is a nice addition to the existing methodical literature and
a refreshing selection for your solo performance or soloist competition.
Instrumentation: Snare drum and, in various solos, other percussion instruments.
RECORDINGS: First Spotlight - Right On! -  Drum Effects - Rock Feeling -
Almost a Rondo - Rocky Three - Young Fire - Young Spirit - Balkan Beats - 
Laid Back - Ode to Williams - The Train
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This piece for percussion setup is inspired by the energetic work
Short ride in a Fast Machine by John Adams. 

In this symphonic work the woodblock is a fundamental part, as it is in my piece.
'Time divided' is a term invented by John Adams. It is a way to divide time by using conflicting rhythms to disrupt the metronomic stability of the woodblock, while remaining the groove.

Either way, this setup solo keeps your brain in shape!
Instrumentation: bongos, rototoms, snare drum, bass/impact drum, hihat, splash cymb.,
woodblock, metronome.
Level: Difficult
LISTEN & WATCH HERE
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The title of this suite for snaredrum with castanets refers to classical Spanish dances in a new guise.

The suite starts with a quote from Alborada del Gracioso by Ravel which serves as
a foundation for the 1st part.

The second movement starts with a short cadenza for castanets and snare drum;
an introduction that is illustrative before a flamenco is started.

Then follows a habanera.

After the habanera fades out, the final movement is a sparkling Spanish clap dance.
The fiery rhythms on the drum and castanets in combination with the changing time signatures are the exciting conclusion to this challenging 4,5 minute composition.
Level: Difficult.
LISTEN HERE
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For many of us, our hectic lives calmed down drastically during the lockdown. 

During that period I walked a lot in the natural surroundings of my hometown
and started to appreciate the nearby nature more and more. 

This suite for 5 octave marimba is a representation of the four seasons I experienced
intensely in this period during these walks in the rural surroundings of my little hometown.
The suite consists of the following parts:
I Summer Song II Autumn Storm III Winter Stars IV Spring Bloom.
Duration: 10,5 minutes
Level: difficult
LISTEN & WATCH HERE
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Nox Oculus is Latin for Night Eye or Night Vision. 

In this solo piece for Glockenspiel (!)
the composer refers to images seen in a dream: 

sometimes recognizable but then again formless and abstract. 

In the rhythmic middle section the R.E.M.(rapid eye movements) are represented; 

a vibrant scene during our dream cycle where rapidly changing images appear. 

At the end of the composition the deep dreaming state returns. 

Since the Glockenspiel is rarely used as a solo instrument,

the composer was challenged by a PAS composition competition to use 

the glockenspiel as a solo instrument to its fullest. 

In this piece he maximizes the potential of color, 

timbre, articulation and melodical possibilities of the instrument. 

The ethereal character of the instrument suits the theme of 

the composition perfectly.
Duration 6:10
Level: Difficult
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The title means 'old new suite' and refers to old dances
for snare drum in a modern way. 

The first part is a reveille, a military wake-up signal. 

Part two is called 'almost a waltz': is it a waltz or not? 

Part three is a Pavane, a stately court dance. 

The challenging feature in this part: both hands enter into a conversation with each other! 

The Gigue, a Jigg, is the virtuosic and raging final part of this very challenging suite.

With this piece, Etienne won the 2010 PAS snare drum competition in Fermo, Italy.

Duration: 8,5 minutes

Level: very difficult
LISTEN & WATCH:  PART I  PART II  PART III  PART IV

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This very challenging piece for percussion setup was written for

Bart van Grinsven (Phion Symphony Orchestra).

Ostinato paterns gradually build up to complex musical machinery
where technique, independence, phrasing ánd stamina are equally important.

The piece consists of three interwoven parts.

Instrumentation: high rototom, bongos,boobams(2),tom toms(2),

conga,bassdrum(on stand),bassdrum (pedal),cupgongs(3),

china cymb.,small susp. cymb.

Duration 7:40

Level: very difficult
DOWNLOAD RECORDING (excerpts)
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