related works
Cellobundel I : voor cello en piano
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Cello and keyboard instrument
Scoring:
vc pf
Thanatos : balletmuziek / Frans van der Kraan
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Percussion
Scoring:
6perc
Marimba phase + : for two marimbas / Florian Wittenburg
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Percussion
Scoring:
2mar
Prelude : for six percussionists, 1974, (revision: 1980) / Theo Loevendie
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Percussion
Scoring:
6conga
composition
Tōtoltepōhua : for percussion duo / Merijn Bisschops
Author(s):
Bisschops, Merijn
(Composer)
Description:
Tōtoltepōhua is the Nahuatl word for "to count eggs". Nahuatl is a polysynthetic language, spoken by original inhabitants of Mexico, in which complex words are formed by the combination of several simple words.
The composition Tōtoltepōhua starts with two sets of base pulses for each percussionist. By itself these simple rhythms are straightforward like metronome beats, but combined they reveal a more complex connection: incidentally they lead to moments that can be perceived as grooves. Most of these groovy moments flee instantly, only one standard Latin rhythm persists. Driven by sudden tempo shifts, the rhythmic feel of the music changes rapidly and sometimes stagnates in repeating patterns.
Merijn Bisschops