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This new percussion ensemble piece is described as the sound of a “malfunctioning musical box that sputters (often abruptly) into off-kilter funky episodes.” A recurring melodic theme and groove are the earworm, while the “sputters” are fun and interesting surprises.
The piece not only requires multiple players capable of advanced four-mallet parts, but the entire ensemble must understand various time signatures, including 12/16. The timpani player doubles the bass guitar often, which requires a lot of pedaling. In the performance notes, Matthew Kilby includes suggestions for substituting or doubling instruments, if necessary. He also mentions that the drum set part, which is notated, can be “embellished to taste.”
The score is very well-marked, clear, and user-friendly. I recommend this piece for an advanced high school or university percussion ensemble. The harmonic language and groove are accessible to both audience and players. The “off-kilter” nature gives the music just enough unpredictability to keep the audience guessing.
—Justin Bunting
Percussive Notes
Vol. 60, No. 5, October 2022
“Charleston musician and high school music teacher Matthew Kilby released a new single, “Sunday,” this weekend. If he set out to create the sonic-embodiment of a serene Sunday morning, he succeeded — the track is a breezy indie-pop tune that you want to listen to as you laze in bed.”
“Matthew Kilby encapsulates rainy Sunday day feels in his latest single”
“The resulting video is a fun accompaniment to the tune, and hits on those cringeworthy 80s dating videos nicely. Though thanks to the music, the “Pyramid Scheme” music video is not nearly as cringeworthy as the actual dating videos.”
“Digging this fresh and cerebral jam from singer/songwriter Matthew Kilby. Loving the super tight indie rock feel on this one; the vibes here are springy and warm, reminiscent of Talking Heads with a hint of Crumb and the 1980s. What we love most are Kilby’s ear-catching lyrical bombs – barbs like “you’re a baby talk liar with a flight attendant smile” sting with sheer creativeness. Either way, we think this one will find its way onto your playlist. Check it out on YouTube below or Spotify.”
“His students know him as their music teacher at Fort Dorchester High School, where he instructs them on Steel Drums, Percussion and AP Music Theory. Locals may be familiar from his timbales-playing stints as part of Gino Castillo’s Latin Jazz Group, “The Cuban Cowboys,” — mostly performing Tuesday nights at Prohibition on King Street. Others, still, may recall the rock band from his youth, “The Makeshift,” to which he credits with teaching him, in his own words, how “to get in trouble, book a show, write a song, and to treasure life-changing friendships with other Charleston musicians.”
