The Floor Is Lava by Brian Nozny

Be careful, The Floor Is Lava! This flexible percussion ensemble work by Brian Nozny is a nod to the childhood game of the same name. Jumping and climbing all over furniture while pretending the floor is lava, this piece is a musical representation of the game. With a running  path of sixteenth notes scored entirely for accessory percussion instruments, this serves as an audible route to avoid the lava. The sixteenth-note path is sometimes interrupted to represent the occasional “failure” of falling into the lava.

This piece is not only a fun piece that students will enjoy, but it is a great choice for directors who are seeking a flexible ensemble work. It can be performed with four or more players utilizing a variety of instruments within each part’s instrument family. The four-part families include resonant metals, drum-like instruments or objects, shaker-esque items, and wooden sounds. Throughout the piece, directors and students can choose to add or subtract instruments and players to make the piece more dynamic and exciting. Additionally, Nozny also encourages ensembles to add repeats and incorporate improv sections to tailor the piece to the ensemble. The Floor Is Lava is a fun and exciting work intended to fit any percussion ensemble’s needs and size.

The Floor is Lava ships as a printed, professionally bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for printing or tablet viewing.