The title recalls Brecht’s Drums in the Night and the drum’s association with rebellion. The work also draws on percussion’s connection with ritual, cyclical time and trance, moving between repeated rhythmic patterns and sudden, explosive breaks.
The orchestra is divided into five groups, each with its own leader. Frame drums, African rhythmic traditions, gamelan instruments and military drums contribute to a varied musical landscape. The score provides a full shared framework, but leaving room for improvisation and dialogue between the groups.
The world premiere took place on 15 June 2019 at Palazzo Mauro De André in Ravenna, closing the festival’s Le 100 percussioni programme.
