Amethyst by Brant Blackard

Amethyst was written during the summer of 2019 and significantly edited in the fall of 2023. The piece was written for my good friend and fantastic percussionist Andrea Venet. The first instrument I ever played was the drumset and this piece is part of my continued attempt to blend a naturalistic style of drumset playing into a more structured, “composed,” context. To this end, the player is given many opportunities to improvise based on particular patterns and is encouraged to “groove” within that framework.

The three main sections of the piece were inspired by various styles of electronic music, such as drum-and-bass and chiptune. This influence may be heard in the pieces’ rhythmic energy with bright, glowing harmonies, including some of Andrea’s favorite kind of chords (9ths, 11ths, etc.). The influence of the phenomenal drummer Jojo Mayer also looms large...

The often simple and repetitive nature of the keyboard parts may also leave room for some subtle (or not so subtle!) creative embellishments, if the players so desire. The piece is written for a standard 4-piece drumset with an additional china cymbal, however the player may be free to add on as they wish. Amplification of the keyboards may also assist with balance.

Learn more about the composer

Upon purchase, you will receive a secure 24-hour link to the digital performance materials including:

1. Full Score and Parts — PDF format