Aztec: Percussion 1
By Erik Morales
Grade: 2
Item: 98-PC-DB1265_PC1
$7.00
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Description
The mystery and wonder of the ancient Aztec civilization serves as the basis of this innovative and colorful new work. A large battery of percussion compliments the energetic writing in all instruments. After a mysterious introduction, a theme is presented in a call-and-response fashion that is passed throughout the ensemble. The piece develops seamlessly from section to section as it builds to a dynamic conclusion. An excellent work for concert or festival!
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Additional Details
Series:
FJH Young Band
Publisher:
The FJH Music Company, Inc.
SKU:
98-PC-DB1265_PC1
More about this title
About the Composer: Erik Morales
Erik Morales began composing during high school in south Florida when his former band director asked him to arrange music for the marching band in 1985. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Louisiana, Lafayette in 1989 and studied composition at Florida International University. Since then, he has established himself as a prolific composer across multiple genres, with over 150 published works for wind, orchestral, jazz, and chamber ensembles performed worldwide.
Morales has built a reputation for balancing artistic quality with educational accessibility, particularly in his work for young musicians. His trumpet compositions have earned critical recognition, including first-place performances at the 2006 and 2008 National Trumpet Competitions and premieres at major professional conferences. In 2016, he was inducted into the Louisiana Association for Jazz Education's Hall of Fame. Schools and organizations across the country commission his work regularly.
Why we love this
Morales captures the visual and emotional richness of Aztec culture without resorting to cliché world music gestures. The call-and-response theme keeps your whole ensemble engaged as it travels section to section, and the generous percussion writing adds genuine color and texture rather than mere decoration. For Grade 2, this strikes a rare balance: challenging enough to hold young musicians' attention and sophisticated enough to sound genuinely impressive at festivals.
What to expect
Mysterious and evocative from the opening moments, the piece gradually awakens as themes pass hand to hand across the ensemble. Energy builds through colorful orchestration and rhythmic vitality, creating a sense of discovery that culminates in a powerful, assured finish.
Who it's for
Young concert bands in Grades 2-3 looking for repertoire that sounds more sophisticated than its difficulty level suggests. Directors preparing for festival performances or concert programming will find this piece both technically accessible and musically rewarding for players.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the mysterious introduction carefully; allow silence and space to build anticipation before the theme emerges rather than rushing into it.
- Establish the call-and-response dialogue clearly between sections. Mark your score to show which instruments are 'calling' and which are 'responding' so the conversation reads distinctly.
- Give your percussion section independence and confidence. The large battery should anchor and color the development, not play as background filler.
- Shape the dynamic build toward the conclusion by thinking in longer phrases rather than measure-by-measure. Let the momentum gather naturally across sections.
How to use it
Use this on a fall festival or concert program to showcase your ensemble's musicianship without stretching technique beyond Grade 2 capabilities. It pairs well with more lyrical or traditional repertoire as a centerpiece, offering visual and cultural interest that engages both players and audiences.
Skills your students will build
- Call-and-response ensemble dialogue and sectional independence
- Dynamic control across longer musical phrases
- Rhythmic accuracy in energetic, multicultural contexts
- Balance and blend with expanded percussion instrumentation
- Reading concert band notation and part coordination