Sinister Footwear

By Frank Zappa

Arranged For Percussion By Mike Myers

Sinister Footwear was originally written as an orchestral ballet by Frank Zappa in three movements. This arrangement adapts a portion of the second movement for percussion ensemble. Similar versions of the second movement are included on the Zappa releases, Them or Us (1984), and Make A Jazz Noise Here (1991). The theme from the third movement appears on You Are What You Is (1981). The first movement is not currently on any commercially available release. However, all three movements have been performed once in the early 1980s by an orchestra in Berkeley, California.

As of this writing (Summer 1992) a full orchestral performance of the entire Sinister Footwear ballet is planned for September '92 by the Saarbrucken Symphony in Frankfurt, Germany.

This arrangement of Sinister Footwear shows both the intricacies of Frank Zappa's melodic and rhythmic genius. Dissonate melodies which rapidly flow in and out of complex polyrhythmic unison ensemble figures make this piece a lofty challenge to perform.

...Once again, thanks to Frank and Gail Zappa for their help in providing me with a score to work from in order to do an accurate job of arranging this piece, and also Gerry Fialka at Barfko-Swill.

Instrumentation

Bells
Celeste/Crotales/Almglocken
Xylophone
Vibes 1
Vibes 2
Chimes
Marimba 1
Marimba 2
Marimba 3
Marimba 4
Bass Marimba
Timpani
Piano
Bass
Drums
Percussion

Score.pdf

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