The Splitting of the Self

Listen to the work here!
 
The Splitting of the Self is a duo for two multi-percussionists, accompanied by an audio track. The percussion parts employ the following instrumentation:
 
Percussion 1: Small Bass Drum, 2 Congas, Tambourine, Woodblock, Hi-Hat, Steel Pipe
Percussion 2: Muted Timpano, 2 Tom-Toms, Snare Drum, Cowbell, Ribbon Crasher, Thai Gong
 
This work imagines the two human performers and their electronic accompanist as three alternate versions of the same person, living three versions of the same life in three parallel universes. Over time, the two percussion parts begin to diverge one note at a time, just as small decisions are theorized to cause parallel versions of the self to branch off into alternate possibilities. These divergences, and the addition of new sonic elements in the accompaniment, allow the parallel lives to flourish and dance together. After an abrasive breakdown of the material, the two now disjoint percussionists begin to create a composite rhythm that builds slowly over time, which then phases until it returns to unison, the parallel universes brought together as one. Musically, the work draws inspiration from Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Jerome Begin, Of Monsters and Men, and Deadpool and Wolverine.
 
This work is dedicated to the percussionists of the Catwalk Percussion Trio, who
commissioned the work and premiered it at an off-Broadway variety show entitled
“Women Gone Wild” in September of 2025.