Sunward/Onward
Commissioned by the current and former members of the Boise Philharmonic Percussion Section, Sunward/Onward is a keyboard percussion sextet dedicated to Dr. John Baldwin on the occasion of his retirement from Boise State University after 50 years of teaching. The piece draws inspiration from the poem “My Triumph” by John Greenleaf Whittier, which truly captures the essence of passing the torch.
Medium: Percussion Ensemble (6-9)
Publisher: C. Alan Publications (Spring 2022 release)
Composed: 2021
Duration: 5:00
Difficulty: Grade 4
Instrumentation
Bells + Xylophone
Vibraphone 1*
Vibraphone 2*, Chimes
Marimba 1 [4-octave)#
Marimba 2 (4-octave)
Marimba 3 [5-octave]#
Percussion 1 [optional]: hi-hat, ride, cymbal, triangle, suspended cymbal, 3 concert toms
Percussion 2 [optional]: slapstick, tambourine, woodblock
Percussion 3 [optional]: concert bass drum, egg shaker, woodblock [shared]
* Vibraphone 1 and 2 may share one instrument. Pedaling is marked in both parts, so it may be controlled by the right foot of Player 2 or the left foot of Player 1.
# Marimba 1 and 3 may share one 5-octave instrument. An optional 4.3-octave version of the Marimba 3 part is included.
Program Notes
Commissioned by the current and former members of the Boise Philharmonic Percussion Section, Sunward/Onward is a keyboard percussion sextet dedicated to Dr. John Baldwin on the occasion of his retirement from Boise State University after 50 years of teaching. The piece draws inspiration from the poem “My Triumph” by John Greenleaf Whittier, which truly captures the essence of passing the torch.
