• for eight percussionists
• duration: 8 minutes
• composed in 2004
• commissioned by Phillip J. Mikula and the Victoria Memorial H.S. Percussion Ensemble
• premiered by the Victoria Memorial H.S. Percussion Ensemble at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Nashville, TN on November 13, 2004

• play: University of Michigan Percussion Ensemble, November, 2009

• play: University of Michigan Percussion Ensemble, November, 2009

When I considered naming this piece Reckless, defined as a disregard for consequences or unthinking boldness, it seemed appropriate for two reasons. First, the score states that the performance should always be pushing forward, that the piece will suffer if the tempo is too slow, and that "While accuracy is necessary, there should be no feeling that the piece is being performed carefully." So I hoped the name Reckless would give even more encouragement to the performers to push themselves and bring an edge to the performance.

Second, when I started planning the music I had two very different ideas in mind, and was having trouble deciding which one to use. I was attracted to something I'd read about a remix artist that claims he mixes different pieces of music together without listening to them. So I decided to take my two ideas and mix them together, inserting other ideas more or less at random, sometimes fitting them into the score visually as opposed to working them in compositionally, or in effect, without really "listening" to them. So in addition to my desire that there be a bit of recklessness in the performance of the piece, there was a bit of recklessness in the composition of the music as well.

Available from:

• The composer: $80 plus $5 shipping. (submit order)
• Steve Weiss Music