El Rio Noneco

by Gregory D.V. Holmes

Medium Concert Percussion

9-13+ Players

Instrumentation: 

• Glockenspiel
• Xylophone
• Vibraphone
• Marimba (4-octave)
• Piano*
• Bass guitar* (or synth, malletSTATION, MalletKAT, or 5-octave marimba)
• Drums — snare drum, bongos**, congas (2)**
• Cymbals — suspended cymbal
• Accessories — claves, metal guiro, cowbell

*optional

**may omit one or the other

Keyboard instruments may be doubled if personnel and equipment are available.

El Rio Noneco by Greg D.V. Holmes is a medium-level percussion ensemble work for 9 to 13 or more players that blends Latin grooves with bright, melodic mallet writing. Inspired by a small creek in rural Panama, the piece mirrors the river’s character—from calm and shimmering to lively and full of motion.

Written for bells, xylophone, vibraphone, marimba, and Latin rhythm section (claves, guiro, bongos, congas, cowbell, and optional piano and bass), the scoring is flexible and practical for most school or community ensembles. Keyboard instruments may also be doubled as personnel and equipment allow.

Players begin almost by accident, easing into the groove before building to the energetic midpoint where the rhythms come to life. Unison moments at key transitions require tight ensemble focus, while the non-pitched percussion maintains a steady, blended groove underneath. Light improvisation in the hand-drumming parts is welcome and can help the groove feel natural. Your audience is sure to enjoy a refreshing splash in El Rio Noneco!

This piece ships as a fully bound score. Individual parts come exclusively in PDF format.