Chimera: Timpani
(Ki-meer'-uh)
By Vince Gassi
Grade: 2 (Easy)
Item: 00-PC-0014924_TMP
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Description
Greek mythology is the source of inspiration for this new piece for young band. A chimera is a fire-breathing monster with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail. Fearsome indeed!! But just as dynamic is this musical tale of valor depicting a warrior knight's epic quest to defeat the beast. Spirited harmonies and energetic rhythms abound, contrasting perfectly with a moving lyrical section.
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, Chimera: Timpani comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Belwin Young Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
252
SKU:
00-PC-0014924_TMP
More about this title
About the Composer: Vince Gassi
Vince Gassi has established himself as one of the most prolific and accessible voices in young band composition since joining Alfred Music in 2006. With more than 100 published works to his name, he has built a reputation for writing music that engages student musicians while maintaining genuine artistic substance. His pieces appear regularly on festival and contest programs across North America, Europe, and Japan, and he is a frequent presence at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago.
Gassi's background spans both performance and education. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Western Ontario, studied composition and arranging at the Dick Grove School of Music in Los Angeles, and completed a Ph.D. in composition at York University in Toronto. For over two decades, he taught instrumental music at the elementary and secondary levels. Today he works extensively as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician, leading workshops on creative engagement and digital workflows for music directors across the United States and Canada.
Why we love this
Gassi captures the narrative arc of an epic battle without ever losing sight of what young players need to succeed. The contrast between driving, rhythmic passages and a genuinely expressive lyrical section gives your band opportunities to demonstrate both technical control and musicality, while the programmatic foundation keeps rehearsals energized and meaningful.
What to expect
Chimera sweeps you into a classical battle narrative through spirited, driving rhythms and bold harmonies that evoke the chimera's ferocity, then pulls back into a moving, introspective moment that brings the warrior's courage and determination into focus. The piece breathes with dramatic contrast, never feeling static despite its accessibility.
Who it's for
Young band conductors looking for Grade 2 material with real programmatic substance and concert appeal. This piece works equally well for groups developing rhythmic precision and young musicians ready to explore storytelling through music.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the spirited opening sections by maintaining clarity in the tutti passages; this Grade 2 writing often features interlocking rhythmic lines that can muddy if individual sections aren't hearing their specific part.
- Shape the lyrical middle section with long-line phrasing rather than note-by-note articulation; younger players sometimes default to detaching every note, so model the singing quality you want to hear.
- Prepare for the dynamic swings between the fierce and peaceful moments by marking a clear rehearsal plan that isolates each character, then builds the transitions so the contrast lands effectively.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece for a concert built around mythology or heroes, or use it in a festival set where you want a showstopper that doesn't overwhelm a developing ensemble. The contest listing makes it ideal for spring festival programming when students have the rhythmic security and ensemble balance to handle the energetic passages.
Skills your students will build
- Managing dynamic contrasts between energetic and lyrical sections
- Executing spirited rhythmic patterns while maintaining ensemble precision
- Shaping expressive phrasing in slower, sustained passages
- Balancing individual part clarity in complex harmonic textures
- Understanding programmatic storytelling through musical narrative