Babylon

Gillingham, David R.

Medium/Advanced Concert Percussion

14 Players

Commissioned by the Texas Christian University Percussion Orchestra (Brian A. West, conductor), “Babylon” is a programmatic work for percussion orchestra inspired by the story of “The Tower of Babel” from the chapter of Genesis of the Bible. Fittingly, this piece is released 25 years after the initial publication of Gillingham’s seminal work, “Stained Glass.”

Instrumentation:

Crotales (2 octaves)[shared]/Xylophone
Bells/Xylophone
Vibraphone 1
Vibraphone 2
Marimba 1 (4.3-octave)
Marimba 2 (4.3-octave)
Marimba 3 (4.5-octave)
Marimba 4 (5-octave)

Percussion 1: 5 Tibetan Prayer Bowls, Chimes, Crotales [shared], Suspended Cymbal [shared]

Percussion 2: Rainstick, Suspended Cymbal [shared], Crash Cymbals [shared], 2 Brake Drums [shared], Snare Drum [shared]

Percussion 3: Tam-Tam, Crash Cymbals [shared], 2 Brake Drums [shared], 5 Concert Toms [shared], Bongos, Suspended Cymbal [shared]

Percussion 4: Bass Drum, Wind Chimes, 2 Congas, Hi-Hat, 5 Concert Toms [shared]

Timpani (4 drums)
Piano