Listen to Requiem for a Rhino:

Instrumentation:

2 Vibraphones
2 Marimbas (4.5 octave)
Timpani (32”, 29”, 26”, 23”)
Percussion 1 (crotales, bass drum, tambourine, snare drum, triangle)
Percussion 2 (djembe, snare drum, suspended cymbal)
Percussion 3 (tam-tam, cabasa, bass drum)

Program Notes

In 2016, during my senior year of high school, I was assigned to put together a research paper on some issue plaguing the earth. In my research I came across the incredible story of Sudan, the last male northern white rhinoceros in the world. He was under the 24-hour watch of armed guards who believed in the mission of protecting this beautiful creature from the poachers that depleted his sub-species of rhino down to the remaining three, and who threatened his own existence.

In 2018, I heard news that Sudan had passed away, and I was shocked. I felt compelled to write a piece of music to commemorate and mourn the passing of Sudan, and thought it would do well as a piece for percussion ensemble. After several years on the idea, I finally have committed the piece to paper.

In three movements, Requiem for a Rhino portrays an image of the struggle for these beautiful creatures to survive and continue to thrive well into the future. When you purchase this ensemble, you contribute to this great cause. A portion of the money made from this piece will be donated to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Nanyuki, Kenya for their efforts in trying to save the northern white rhino species.

1. Rhinos is a display of the innocence and jaunty nature of these magnificent animals. Picturing a calm morning in the East African savannah, I introduce a rhino theme that comes back later in the piece in a few different forms. As the movement ends we hear familiar motifs set up at the beginning, but this time they’re not as optimistic. There is an air of uncertainty.

2. Poachers is a violent movement that conveys the scariness of being attacked by poachers in the night. This one utilizes atonal textures and is a stark contrast to the first movement. This serves as a reminder of the horrors of the realities that dwindled this species down to near oblivion. Two snare drum players are featured in this movement, dueling back and forth to create tension throughout this entire movement. The snare drum’s live up to their name here, representing snares trapping these poor magnificent animals.

3. Sanctuary is the final movement. Here, we get a new sense of hope and optimism in the music, representative of the conservation efforts being made to save the species of the northern white rhino.  We return to some of the themes presented in the first movement, though returning slightly slower. The movement ends in F major, yet the final four measures are in F minor.