The Whistle Drummer

Item details

Description +
- Duration: approx. 14 min.
  
  The Whistle Drummer is dedicated to my friend and colleague, Christian Wissel, whose surname provided me with the inspiration for the play on words in the title.
  
  The piece has three movements (NYC, PARI´, RIO), encompasses various playing techniques (as well as whistling with the mouth) and musical styles and is a kind of „musical journey“.
  
  The markings above the systems are intentionally written in the respective language, so english, french and portuguese.
  
  While NYC and RIO feel „realistic“, PARI´ is more an „illusion“. All three movements provide space for improvisation.
  
  The publication of this piece is my contribution to the "Year of the Drum Set". It aims to showcase the drum set as a solo instrument and demonstrate the musical stories we can tell with it, combined with a few effect instruments.
  
  My special thanks go to Thorsten Blumberg for the fantastic video production and EDITION SVITZER for the wonderful layout.
  
  I wish all performers and audiences a great experience and a lot of fun with THE WHISTLE DRUMMER.
  
  Johannes Steinbauer
  January 2022
Instrumentation +
- Required Instruments
  
  Drum Set (bass drum, snare drum, hi-hat, floor tom, crash cymbal)
  2 (or more) cymbals (“hard“ cymbals or china), specially mounted
  Police whistle
  Apito (samba whistle)
  If available: a siren (or another suitable soundeffect for NYC)
  Sticks, brushes and 1 (violin, cello or double bass) bow
Watch+
- Performed by Johannes Steinbauer
About the composer +
- Johannes Steinbauer was born in 1973 in Bavaria (Germany) and started drumming in a brass band at the age of 11. Later, he was taught by Christian Obermaier, who laid the groundwork for his professional training.
  
  In 1993, whilst studying with Prof. Arnold F. Riedhammer at the „Richard Strauss Konservatorium“ in Munich, Johannes Steinbauer won a position as percussionist in the „Beethoven Orchester Bonn“. In 2001 he was appointed Principal Percussionist of the „WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln“.
  
  Studies for snare drum and percussion were written in 2019, based on decades of orchestral experience. In 2020, Johannes Steinbauer composed his first solo pieces, including the 2020 Solo Trilogy for Vibraphone and Percussion, which was produced by the Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Cologne in 2021.
  
  For more information, please visit www.charakter-etueden.de
Reviews +
- Percussive Notes, April 2023
  
  “The Whistle Drummer” is a wonderful piece for solo drum set. The composer writes, “It aims to showcase the drum set as a solo instrument and demonstrate the musical stories we can tell with it, combined with a few effect instruments.” The piece is in three movements (“NYC,” “PARI,” and “RIO”), each representing various styles and techniques on the drum set. The first movement includes jazz, funk, drum-and-bass, and more. The second movement is slow and dreamlike, using a lot of effects. The final movement features Brazilian styles and some theatrics.
  
  Rarely does a percussion solo (for any instrument) have notation and engraving as meticulous and clear as “The Whistle Drummer.” Johannes Steinbauer has done a marvelous job writing out the parts needed while still leaving some room for the player to improvise in sections. This would be a perfect solo for someone who is or wants to be a serious drum set player. Yet it remains accessible to the audience throughout its 15-minute runtime. I highly recommend “The Whistle Drummer.” It is the perfect addition to any recital or professional drum set performance.
  
  —Joe Millea
Credits +
- Front Cover Artwork: Nicola Lee
  Photo: Thorsten Blumberg
  Translation: Dan Townsend
  Engraving: Johannes Steinbauer
  Printed in Copenhagen, Denmark
  Copyright © Edition SVITZER
  www.editionsvitzer.com

Item details

Related publications