Concert Snare Drum Solo Commissioned by Black Swamp Percussion
Composition Notes:
Uneven Gravities is a solo snare drum work that explores shifting metric weight through unstable grooves, additive rhythmic phrasing and fractured groupings. Drawing inspiration from the aggressive precision of djent metal bands like Meshuggah and Animals as Leaders and the fluid phrasing of Tigran Hamasyan, the piece treats the snare drum as both a driving force and a voice capable of subtle inflection. The use of a small cymbal prepared on the drum expands the timbral range and evokes a drumset-like palette. Constantly changing pulses create a sense of gravitational flux—where the listener is pulled in and out of rhythmic centers—creating a sound world that is both raw and elastic.
Meet the Composer:
Anthony Di Bartolo (Black Swamp Artist) is a New Jersey-based percussionist, composer, improviser and teacher, always working on a collection of diverse projects. He is the principal percussionist for the Allentown Symphony and percussion professor at Rowan University. The music he writes ranges from fully notated compositions to loosely sketched improvisational pieces left open for the performer(s) to interpret in real time and often feature electronics with a backing track or live processing.