Snare Drum Solos, A Collection

The practice of snare drum solos is an artform that has a long history. From the flute and snare drum duets in the Marine Corps Band (1), to the current works of DCI, WGI, and other competitive forums.  Currently, the artform has many styles and variations from the time of military marching to the contemporary practices of marching percussion. For me, my style of writing and playing are derived from the practice of busking, or playing in the street for money. Through this artistic practice, I've developed a few motifs that have survived through my time of playing percussion and busking. 

The first of the solos is an application of the Bembe bell pattern to snare drumming and the rudiments. While this solo is more of an etude, the solo encapsulates the polyrhythmic aspects of both snare drumming and the 6/8 patterns found in many African musics and African Diasporic musics.  The second of the solos is a fusion of the American Military Marching style, Basel Drumming, and 2nd Line drumming found in New Orleans. 

1. Marine Corps. (n.d.). Marine Band Manual. https://www.marines.mil/. https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCO%205000.18.PDF