Rougarou by Jensen L. Thomassie

Rougarou by Jensen L. Thomassie
for solo snare drum and percussion quartet

A Rougarou is a mythical creature from traditional French Cajun folklore brought to Louisiana by displaced French settlers in the 18th century. The name "rougarou" itself translates to "werewolf" in French. Legend has it that a rougarou is a person afflicted by a curse, transforming into a beast with a human body and a wolf's or dog's head, similar to a werewolf. This transformation is said to be a consequence of breaking a Catholic Lenten vow, resulting in a curse that can only be lifted after a period of 101 days.

This three movement work for solo snare drum and percussion quartet moves through music inspired by the folklore of this Cajun creature, inspired by my personal experiences as a young kid with its replica in the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, Louisiana. The first part moves through fast mixed-metered passages in both the soloist and quartet, ending with a huge drum moment in the full ensemble. The second part slows down to a mysterious half time with C drones and polyrhythms throughout, with more snare exposition above it. After the second part is a cadenza for the soloist, moving through some very difficult passages. Finally, the third part uses mock-delay effects and a meter modulation to build tension and excitement to the end.

Purchase information: https://www.jensenlthomassie.com/stor...