Raptures of Undream by Bruce Hamilton

Raptures of Undream was written for the Indiana University Percussion Ensemble, Wilber T. England, director. The piece is scored for six players, armed each with a drum (floor tom) and a cymbal. Overall, the work is divided into four sections delineated by tempo. Rhythmic (and melodic) motives are presented and developed through a series of divergent textures and rhythmic guises. As in other works by the composer, a prominent theme is the contrast between contrapuntal, pointillistic sections and passages of unison rhythm. Essential to the piece is the sense of "groove" (i.e., flavored pulse) which serves as the underpinning to the sometimes wild (and rapturous) rhythmic excursions.