PURR-Snickety Cover Image

PURR-Snickety: Percussion Ensemble Conductor Score

$8.00 USD
$8.00 USD
Skip to product information
PURR-Snickety Cover Image
PURR-Snickety: Percussion Ensemble Conductor Score

PURR-Snickety: Percussion Ensemble Conductor Score

Mvt 1. - The Curious

By Joseph Benjamin Earp

Grade: 2

Item: 98-RWS225101
$8.00
Shipped

One moment…

Related Items

PURR-Snickety - Mvt 1. - The Curious: Percussion Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

$50.00
View

PURR-Snickety: Percussion Ensemble Conductor Score & Parts

$50.00
View
Description
Rodgit (soft G when pronouncing as in Roger) was a wonderful cat and special family member to Joseph Earp. His name was made up by his son, Jackson. "PURR-Snickety" was written in memory of Rodgit but can easily relate to most cats. Three movements make up this work for percussion ensemble. "The Curious" refers to a cat's inquisitive nature. "The Lovely Nap" attempts to embody a cat's deep sleep filled with gentle dreams. "The Chase" is defined by a cat's innate behavior as a predator and is fun for them. We know you will enjoy this adventurous composition for percussion ensemble as we take on the mindset of a cat.

Original Item#: RWS-2251-01

PURR-Snickety: Percussion Ensemble Conductor Score isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Pages

Sample Audio
0:00
0:00
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series: RWS - Festival Ensemble
Publisher: RWS Music Company
ISBN10: 1-4706-9766-1
ISBN13: 978-1-4706-9766-2
UPC: 038081613512
SKU: 98-RWS225101

More about this title

Why we love this

Earp captures three distinct feline personalities across the three movements, giving percussion students genuine character work rather than abstract rhythmic exercises. The Grade 2 level keeps the writing accessible while still requiring careful ensemble listening, especially during the contrasting textures between the inquisitive opening and the predatory finale.

What to expect

The piece moves between playful alertness, dreamy stillness, and explosive energy. You hear a cat's world unfold through percussion colors: curious and investigative, then serene and introspective, then wild and instinctive.

Who it's for

Percussion ensembles at the Grade 2 level looking for repertoire with genuine musical narrative and character development. This works especially well for programs seeking to blend technical growth with storytelling and for young percussionists who benefit from imagining the music's extramusical context.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the articulation in 'The Curious' to suggest cat-like precision and sudden stops. Mallets and strikers should mirror that poised, alert quality.
  • Allow 'The Lovely Nap' to breathe. Resist the temptation to rush softer dynamic passages; let the ensemble sustain the dream-like quality through patient phrasing.
  • Build momentum gradually in 'The Chase' rather than attacking it immediately at full energy. The tension is strongest when it's earned through incremental intensity.

How to use it

Program the three movements together as a complete arc, or use individual movements as shorter concert pieces if time is limited. The thematic unity and descriptive nature make it a strong choice for family concerts or school assemblies where audiences appreciate clear storytelling alongside solid musicianship.

Skills your students will build

  • dynamic contrast and shaping across longer musical phrases
  • ensemble balance and blending of multiple percussion colors
  • sustaining focus and consistency in soft passages
  • coordinated tempo control during rhythmic acceleration and deceleration

You May Also Like