Pelican by Brian Slawson

Pelican by Brian Slawson is a quirky percussion ensemble perfect for younger players. The piece is a riff on the standard pop-tune style with predictable phrasing, grooves, and melodies. The piece largely contains basic rhythms and syncopation and is centered in the key of C major – an excellent canvas for teaching. Throughout the piece, Slawson infuses a few accidentals for a brief challenge. In the back end of the work, a key signature change will keep students on their toes. Pelican is a wonderful piece to program for young students in their first percussion ensemble setting.