Guise, Jean François de – Octet for percussion ensemble op. 23, No. 6

Guise Jean François de
Octet
for percussion ensemble
op. 23, no. 6 (2018)

A mixture of the ancient Japanese drum tradition and tone sequences of European contemporary percussion works seems at first glance to be of a contradictory nature. After all, the taiko drums were used to mentally wear down the opponent of the samurai and on the other hand to send their own fighters into a bloodlust.
On the other hand, the European percussion culture has developed, especially in the last 20 years, into a classical concert form of its own, in which it is also shown that color mixtures are possible that almost create real tone sequences.
The piece "Octet for percussion ensemble, op.23, no.6 (2018)" by Jean François de Guise, begins with martial motifs, which he then gradually infiltrates with European influences. Even when there is another attempt to establish the war theme, it quickly takes on a dance-like character, but without losing its power.
Both cultures mix and make one forget that there are hardly any real tone sequences to be heard, but that everything is composed of rhythm, instrumental colors and percussion techniques.
The fact that at the end of the piece the "war equipment" is used once again, however, is not perceived by the listener as a fight, but as a really powerful end of an interesting development.


percussion, taiko drum, xylophone, marimba, vibraphone
score & 8 parts / 59 pages