Gilded Cage, The

Susan K. Powell

General Info

Year: 1998 / 2005
Duration: c. 6:00
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Keyboard Percussion Publications
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $40.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Percussion I-II-III-IV (4 players), including:

Bass Drum (pedal)
Brake Drums (4: high, medium-high, medium and low)
China Cymbal
Splash Cymbals (2)
Tom-toms (4: high, medium-high, medium and low)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

The Gilded Cage was written by Susan K. Powell in 1998 for the Northwestern Doctoral Percussion Quartet's European appearances in Wurtzburg, Germany, and at the RhythmSticks Percussion Festival in London, England. The title is a combination of two separate sources; the 19th century popular song The Girl in the Gilded Cage, and the 20th century percussion ensemble work Third Construction by John Cage. There are numerous influences from Cage's notable piece, including an early quote of the opening theme, here divided between the four performers and played on tom-toms. The "cage" theme is further exhibited in the way the performers create a constantly evolving visual cage with their sticks.

- Program Note from publisher

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Georgia College Percussion Ensemble

State Ratings

Missouri: Percussion Ensemble A
Oklahoma: Percussion Ens. A
Texas: Percussion Ensemble Class I

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.) Concert Band (Daniel J. Farris, conductor) – 19 May 2019
Wheaton (Ill.) College Percussion Ensemble (unconducted) – 18 April 2016

Works for Winds by This Composer

Chicken Run: Main Titles (with Gregson-Williams; arr. Murtha)
Romantic Flight from "How to Train Your Dragon''
How to Train Your Dragon (arr. O'Loughlin) (2010)
How to Train Your Dragon (arr. Van Grevenbroek) (2010/2017)
Kung Fu Panda (with Zimmer; arr. Hjortenhammar) (2008-11/2016)
Selections from "Save El Dorado"
"Shrek" Soundtrack Highlights (arr. Moss) (2001)
Story of Mumble Happy Feet, The (arr. Bullock) (2007)
Symphonic Suite from Rio (arr. Rozendom) (2011/2014)

Resources

Powell, S. (2005). The Gilded Cage [score]. Keyboard Percussion Publications: Asbury Park, N.J.