Xavier's New Friends is an educational work designed to simultaneously educate and entertain. Aimed at 1st through 5th graders, this percussion ensemble work will introduce different musical concepts and instruments and show how different types of instruments make music in their own special wayseven without pitches! This fun, interactive work is a story told by the narrator and brought to life by the players, some of whom even come from members of the audience!
The storyline takes the audience on a journey. Our protagonist is Xavier, a xylophone, who loves to play a beautiful melody. He practices and practices and when hešs got his melody just right he sets off to show everyone what hešs learned. Xavier has a little neighbor Sally, who plays the slapstick Man Sally," Xavier tells her, "I donšt think thatšs a melody." But by the end of the piece Xavier learns that there are more elements in music than just melody.
When he encounters a snare drum and a bass drum Xavier doesnšt understand how they can make music. After all, they canšt play a lovely tune like he can. rhythm When they strike up a peppy march Xavier realizes they DO play music. Sam Snare Drum and Bubba Bass Drum teach Xavier that you can make music with rhythm, just as you can with melody.
Xavier then finds a set of bongos and a set of toms (each named Tom). They teach Xavier all about changing tempos. Tom and Tom Tom-Tom like the accelerando! When Xavier comes across a band of cymbals hešs no longer surprised that not everyone plays melodies. The cymbal band ("Alternative Metal") teach Xavier about dynamics.
Finally Xavier runs into a glockenspiel (he actually runs into her) named Gloria. Finally hešs met someone to play duets with. But after a while, Xavier begins to miss all his other friends, and their exciting music-making. He runs back along his path and gathers them up. Xavier even runs home to get his neighbor Sally Slapstick. He apologizes to her and tells her that now he really wants to play with her. They all meet in the park and have the most fun of all.
Xavier learns about rhythm, tempo, and dynamics, but the most important thing he learns is that the real fun begins when you can all play together!
Approximate Timing : 25:00
