The Dance of Polyrhythms

Item details

• Description +

  • The Dance of Polyrhythms is my first original composition, written in 2019 as part of my master’s recital. For the program, I needed a piece by a Slovenian composer. Since I loved improvising on various percussion instruments, I asked my mentor, Simon Klavžar, if I could compose a piece for snare drum myself. He liked the idea, and that’s how this piece came to life.
    
    The work reflects my fascination with polyrhythms, subdivisions, and the mathematical aspects of rhythm while maintaining a strong groove despite their complexity. My goal was to blend rhythmic patterns, polyrhythms, various time signatures, and subdivisions into a cohesive “dance” where the performer must keep a clear sense of pulse and meter to navigate the complexity.
    
    The piece begins with a rhythmic motif that can be interpreted in multiple ways, depending on how the performer counts it. As it develops, it incorporates technically demanding elements and explores a wide range of sounds the snare drum can produce.
    
    Looking back, I’m glad I decided to write my own composition. The audience’s enthusiasm after my recital, and their questions about future works, motivated me to continue composing. The Dance of Polyrhythms became the springboard for everything that followed.

• Instrumentation +

  • Snare Drum

• About the composer +

  • Žiga Petrič (b. 1994) is a percussionist, educator, composer, and music producer from Velenje, Slovenia. He studied percussion performance at the Academy of Music, University of Ljubljana, where he was mentored by Boris Šurbek and Simon Klavžar. During his studies, he also worked with Daniel Berg, Anders Åstrand, and Fridrik Duvling at Örebro University in Sweden. He graduated summa cum laude with a master’s degree in classical percussion in 2019.
    
    Primarily a percussion teacher, he is passionate about music education and sharing his expertise with young musicians. He began composing classical music as a personal project, focusing on percussion repertoire. His first composition, The Dance of Polyrhythms (2019), was performed as part of his master’s recital, where it was met with high acclaim. The piece was later selected as one of the works for the state percussion competition, TEMSIG, in the following year.
    
    Over time, his works—many dedicated to his students—gained recognition and have been performed at various concerts and music competitions. Encouraged by the positive reception of his compositions, he continues to expand his catalog, which now includes chamber music alongside solo percussion pieces.

• Credits +

  • With support from Koda’s Cultural Funds
    Front Cover graphics and layout: Nicola Lee
    Photo: Janja Nagode
    Printed in Copenhagen,Denmark
    Copyright © Edition SVITZER
    www.editionsvitzer.com

Related publications

Seven in the Zone

Katana