JOHN HERNDON REFLECT
Reflect by John Herndon © 2025 Tapspace Publications, LLC (ASCAP). All rights reserved.
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PROGRAM NOTES
Reflect follows Reach as the second entry in a series of flexible instrumentation percussion ensemble pieces written specifically for new percussionists and/or programs that are new to percussion ensemble music. Students can be ready to start working on this after finishing just a handful of pages in their method book.
Since it is lyrical in nature, Reflect provides students with the opportunity to practice playing at soft dynamic levels and with a gentle touch while still maintaining rhythmic precision. Work with students to eliminate any heavy sounds and to establish a tranquil soundscape that is ideal for reflection.
—John Herndon
PLAYERS AND INSTRUMENTATION
Reflect requires 2-11+ players with the following instrumentation:
1. Chimes
2. Glockenspiel
3. Xylophone
4. Vibraphone
5. Marimba 1 (4-octave or share w/ M2)
6. Marimba 2 (4-octave)
7. 4 Timpani (32”, 29”, 26”, 23”)
8. Snare drum + ride cymbal
9. Bass drum
10. Percussion 1 — triangle, tambourine
11. Percussion 2 — mark tree, suspended cymbal
Reflect may be performed with as few as two percussionists—one each from parts 1 and 2 below—and may be expanded to accommodate ensembles of practically any size. Below is a more detailed breakdown of the required and optional parts, as well as the general musical elements found in each category’s parts.
MINIMUM/REQUIRED — Part 1 (glockenspiel, xylophone, marimba 1) and Part 2 (vibraphone, marimba 2)
• Dotted half, half, quarter, and eighth note rhythms
• Eight pitches: one octave of a Bb major scale
• Mostly stepwise melodic motion or repeated accompaniment patterns
OPTIONAL — Part 3 (chimes, timpani)
• Dotted half, half, quarter, and eighth note rhythms
• Four pitches: Bb, Eb, F, G
• Mostly pitches that establish harmony
OPTIONAL — Additional percussion
• Snare drum and ride cymbal: includes groups of four 16th notes
• Bass drum: dotted half, half, and quarter note rhythms
• Triangle and tambourine: quarter and eighth note rhythms
• Mark tree and suspended cymbal: textural sounds and volume swells
INSTRUMENTATION EXAMPLES
Below are several examples of how Reflect may be performed with various numbers of players:
• 2 players — glockenspiel and vibraphone or marimba 1 and marimba 2
• 4 players — glockenspiel, vibraphone, chimes, and timpani
• 6 players — glockenspiel, xylophone, vibraphone, marimba 1, marimba 2, and timpani
• 7 players — chimes, glockenspiel, xylophone, timpani, snare drum, bass drum, and percussion 2
• 8 players — all pitched instruments and percussion 1
• 9 players — all parts except bass drum and snare drum
• 10 players — all parts except bass drum
• 11+ players — all parts and begin doubling as instrumentation allows
These are just some options. Please feel free to mix and match from the Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and percussion parts in the way that best serves your students.
SUGGESTED SETUP
G l o c k e n s p i e l C h i m e s X y l o p h o n e V i b r a p h o n e
P e r c u s s i o n 2 m a r k t r e e s u s p e n d e d c y m b a p
M a r i m b a 1 4 - o c t a v e ( o r s h a r e w / M 2 )
i
P e r c u s s i o n 1 t r a n g e t a m b o u r n e
