Musou Tsuribashi

Robert Francis

Medium-Easy Concert Percussion 

7-11 players

Instrumentation:

• Glockenspiel
• Vibraphone
• Xylophone or Marimba (4-octave)
• 2 Timpani (32”/29” or 29”/26”)
• Drums — bass drum (or any low-sounding drum), snare drum, timbales (optional) (or 2 snare drums w/ snares off), 2 toms
• Cymbals — hi-hat (may substitute any dry, articulate sound), China cymbal, suspended cymbal
• Accessories — bow (for bowing cymbals), wood plank (or woodblock or other wood sound)

A run-down suspension bridge in the Akaishi Mountains of Japan, Musou Tsuribashi is the title and focus of this percussive adventure written by Robert Francis for 7–11 players.

The piece’s driving force is supplied by two timpani, snare drum, hi-hat, and other high and low drums. Cymbals and mallet keyboard instruments are mixed in for emphasis and color to depict the perilous journey of a traveler bold enough to attempt crossing the infamous bridge.

Suggested part doubling and instrument substitutions are provided, making the work flexible and accessible in a wide array of performance situations.

And whatever you do, don’t look down …

Musou Tsuribashi ships as a fully bound score and includes individual parts in PDF format for either printing or tablet viewing.