The story behind the Escape X Slapper...
When we commissioned Michael Burritt to compose a piece for Escape Ten in 2016, he delivered a fantastic duo -- Clear Midnight. The piece calls for two 5.0 octave marimbas and 8 toms arranged between the set-ups. At one point in the piece, he writes to strike the mallets on the drum shells. In trying to achieve the perfect "slap" sound, I decided to build a completely different instrument, and thus was born the Escape X Slapper.
As we were preparing for our 2016 PASIC concert, we presented a fall tour to run down our new commissions. While we were performing at Lee University, the composer David Holsinger was in the audience and came up afterwards to inquire about the slappers. Well, now in 2020, David Holsinger is using this instrument in a new composition for wind band and Andy Harnsberger has included 4 slappers in his percussion quartet.
The EX Slapper may also be a good substitute for a whip sound, in the event that the player is holding sticks and unable to pick up a whip or slap stick in time. It is a great addition to many pieces that already exist, like Clay Condon's Fractalia where he writes for the same sound (mallets on drum shells). Check out this recording of Virginia Tech Percussion incorporating the EX Slappers in Fractalia.
We are building more Slappers this spring, so if you are interested in ordering one made especially by Escape Ten, please contact me here.
When we commissioned Michael Burritt to compose a piece for Escape Ten in 2016, he delivered a fantastic duo -- Clear Midnight. The piece calls for two 5.0 octave marimbas and 8 toms arranged between the set-ups. At one point in the piece, he writes to strike the mallets on the drum shells. In trying to achieve the perfect "slap" sound, I decided to build a completely different instrument, and thus was born the Escape X Slapper.
As we were preparing for our 2016 PASIC concert, we presented a fall tour to run down our new commissions. While we were performing at Lee University, the composer David Holsinger was in the audience and came up afterwards to inquire about the slappers. Well, now in 2020, David Holsinger is using this instrument in a new composition for wind band and Andy Harnsberger has included 4 slappers in his percussion quartet.
The EX Slapper may also be a good substitute for a whip sound, in the event that the player is holding sticks and unable to pick up a whip or slap stick in time. It is a great addition to many pieces that already exist, like Clay Condon's Fractalia where he writes for the same sound (mallets on drum shells). Check out this recording of Virginia Tech Percussion incorporating the EX Slappers in Fractalia.
We are building more Slappers this spring, so if you are interested in ordering one made especially by Escape Ten, please contact me here.