Fade (Free) by Clif Walker

Dissolve into the hypnotic and energetic world of Clif Walker’s Fade (Free). This medium-advanced work is a contemporary treatment of the traditional percussion ensemble with the inclusion of piano, bass guitar, and a featured drumset soloist. From the title, Fade refers both to the act of disappearing, realized through the many decrescendos throughout the piece, and the pitch sequence F-A-D-E. (Free) suggests the freedom that the drumset solist can enjoy within the context of the given parameters of the composition.

This piece provides the ensemble and soloist ample opportunities to flex their artistic range and expressivity through both subtle and bold musical moments. The recurring decrescendos and modern harmonic language paired with punctuated rhythmic figures and blazing fast drumset licks provide an invigorating addition to percussion ensemble literature.