SUPER HEAVY
AVAILABLE NOW TO PERFORM
For perusals or purchase, email susannahancockmusic@gmail.com.
super heavy (2021)
Commissioned by Adam Groh of Western Carolina University and a Consortium of 44 Percussion Ensembles
for percussion quartet (four drums, high - low) and electronics
Duration: ca. 7’00”
PROGRAM NOTES
When people ask me about my hometown or my experience growing up there, I can usually sum it up in 3 words: beach, space, and band.
super heavy alludes to the first-stage rocket booster of the same name for Space X’s Starship, a rocket system currently in development that is intended to be a “rapidly reusable” spacecraft. After witnessing the swift decline of the area that was once nicknamed The Space Coast when the shuttle program ended, the prospect of Starship and potential revitalization of my hometown leaves me hopeful.
As the current model stands, Super Heavy will take Starship to Earth’s lower orbit and dislodge, using small bursts of fuel to reverse itself and descend to Earth. For the majority of the trip back, Super Heavy will float quietly to the launchpad that it came from, saving its remaining fuel for a final blast to keep itself from crashing into the launchpad from whence it came.
Coincidentally, the super heavy boosters are shaped like giant bass drums. When I look at them I can’t help but think about my earlier years in band — particularly on drumline — and how formative it was for my musicianship, self-discipline, and ability to build community through music. I’d like to believe that this piece is something a younger version of myself would be excited to play.
This piece is an ode to hometown nostalgia: to being able to go to the beach anytime, to watching rocket launches from bedroom windows, and to spending Friday nights carrying super heavy drums.
- Susanna Hancock (2021)
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super heavy was commissioned as part of a consortium set of 6 percussion ensemble pieces titled EVERYBODY HITS!, focusing on accessibility for a wide variety of ages and ability levels and music programs of varying means. The composers involved include: Jonathan Bingham, Susanna Hancock, Finola Merivale, Emma O’Halloran, Shruthi Rajasekar, and Aeryn Santillan.
The consortium members involved include:
Adam Groh (project organizer) – Western Carolina University
Keith Aleo | Interlochen Center for the Arts
Justin Alexander | Virginia Commonwealth University
Megan Arns | University of Missouri – Columbia
Danny Barsetti-Nerland
Andy Bliss | University of Tennessee – Knoxville
Jeremy Brunk | Millikin University
Michael Bump | Truman State University
Tom Burritt | University of Texas at Austin
Katie Byrd | University of West Georgia
Omar Carmenates | Furman University
Patti Cudd | University of Wisconsin River Falls
DeLane Doyle | Germantown Academy
Scott Farkas | College of Southern Idaho
Alexandros Fragiskatos | Missouri Valley College
Stuart Gerber | Georgia State University
Aaron Gochberg
Ji Hye Jung | Vanderbilt University
John Kilkenny | George Mason University
Galen Lemmon | San Jose State University, Pre University Percussion Group
Melinda Leoce/Tessla Michael | Graceland University
Julie Licata | SUNY Oneonta
Terry Longshore | Left Edge Percussion & Southern Oregon University Percussion Ensemble Quintin Mallette | Fayetteville State University
Bob McCormick | McCormick Percussion Group
Jeremy Meyer | Truman High School (MO)
Oliver Molina | Northwestern State University
Daniel Myers
New Works Project
Ryan Pearson | Fort Hays State University
Doug Perkins | University of Michigan
Brian Pfeifer | University of North Dakota
Andrew Richardson | University of Oklahoma
Lisa Rogers | Texas Tech University
Rick Schadt | Mukwonago High School (WI)
Annie Stevens | Virginia Tech
Joseph Van Hassel | University of North Carolina - Pembroke
Jonathan Wacker | East Carolina University
Glenn Webb | Dixie State University
Bonnie Whiting | University of Washington
Alex Wier | University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Tracy Wiggins | University of North Alabama
Jesse Willis | Coastal Carolina University
Chris Wilson | Washington State University
She-e Wu | Northwestern UniversityThank you all!