soniChroma (2016/2025)

"soniChroma" (meaning “sound color") is a double concerto for two percussionists and orchestra (wind ensemble and digital playback versions also available). As the title suggests, a large focus of the piece is placed on unique sonic color and instrument combinations. This can be seen throughout the orchestra, but prominently in the large percussion solo setup. The percussion setup contains over seventy instruments including skins, metals, woods, strings, non-Western instruments, and found objects.

Throughout the work I wanted to reflect the diverse performance demands of the 21st Century percussionist. These performance modes range from classical percussionists, drum set players, keyboard soloists, and world music performers. The specific instruments and playing styles were chosen to reflect the performance experience of Quey Percussion Duo, for whom the piece was written.

Each of the three movements present a “color," both sonically and visually. The movements are titled after shades of three primary colors (yellow, blue, and red). While each movement represents a very specific visual color, the work is not overtly programmatic. The title merely suggests a visual representation of the music, including additional descriptors (“spark," “dusk," and “electric") to help frame the delivery of the music.

The digital performance tracks used for the digital playback version were composed by Marc Hill.  They were created by transporting the original orchestration to a new digital sound world.  Gene Koshinski and Marc Hill collaborated on the editing of the tracks and they were workshopped extensively by Quey Percussion Duo.