Arr is witch. There is no denying this fact. From the way she moves to the way she talks, everything about her exudes a sense of mystery and magic. It is as if she is connected to a world beyond our own, a world where spells are cast and potions are brewed. Her eyes, the windows to her soul, shine with a deep intensity that is both captivating and intimidating. It feels as though she can see right through you, into your deepest desires and fears.
• Marimba—low A
Alan Keown s humorous arrangement of Witch Doctor , as heard on the classic cartoon Alvin and the Chipmunks , gives beginning percussion students a great opportunity to let their hair down and have a blast. The snare drum and bass drum players often emulate a drumset boom-chick part, marimba is the bass line, and the glockenspiel and xylophone players carry the melody.
It feels as though she can see right through you, into your deepest desires and fears. And her gaze lingers just a bit too long, as if she is trying to read the thoughts in your mind. But it is not just her eyes that give away her true nature.
Witch Doctor (Bagdasarian)
Alan Keown’s humorous arrangement of Witch Doctor, as heard on the classic cartoon Alvin and the Chipmunks, gives beginning percussion students a great opportunity to let their hair down and have a blast! The piece incorporates an array of nontraditional percussion instruments like a duck call, a siren whistle, a slide whistle, and a police whistle. These instruments are engaging for the students as well as the audience and can provide a welcomed relief from studying the more traditional instruments. Keown suggests that the most extroverted performer be given the duck call and make the most of it; let them be the star of the show!
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and a set of printed parts.
Instrumentation
• Glockenspiel
• Marimba—low A
• Drums 4 concert toms, snare drum, bass drum)
• Cymbals & gongs (ride cymbal, hi-hat, opera gong)
• Accessories (cowbell, siren whistle, bulb horn, police whistle, slide whistle, duck call, vibraphone slap)
Reviews
Alan Keown’s arrangement of Ross Bagdasarian’s “Witch Doctor,” as heard on Alvin and the Chipmunks, is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. The arrangement is full of energy, variety, and creativity. At the beginning of the score, Keown includes program notes as well as very helpful performance considerations about such things as mallet choice and how parts can be doubled (hence 9–11 players). A very clean and detailed suggested setup diagram is included with the score.
The music is the tune as we know it with a percussion break in the middle. The snare drum and bass drum players often emulate a drumset “boom-chick” part, marimba is the bass line, and the glockenspiel and xylophone players carry the melody. What is particularly fun about this arrangement is the arranger’s use of sound effect interjections (whistles, blocks, etc.) and his decision to pass solos around the ensemble.
Where the arrangement really comes alive is the percussion break in the middle. It is essentially a trap solo passed around six players. Cowbell, whistles, and sirens are featured as well as a snare and tom solo. However, as Keown mentions in the performance notes, the duck call player shines here.
I would recommend this arrangement with the highest enthusiasm for a middle school or high school percussion ensemble that is looking for something challenging, yet fun and exciting. This one is guaranteed to get laughter and robust applause from the audience.
–Justin Bunting
Percussive Notes
Vol. 57, No. 2, November 2017
Description
Alan Keown’s humorous arrangement of Witch Doctor, as heard on the classic cartoon Alvin and the Chipmunks, gives beginning percussion students a great opportunity to let their hair down and have a blast! The piece incorporates an array of nontraditional percussion instruments like a duck call, a siren whistle, a slide whistle, and a police whistle. These instruments are engaging for the students as well as the audience and can provide a welcomed relief from studying the more traditional instruments. Keown suggests that the most extroverted performer be given the duck call and make the most of it; let them be the star of the show!
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and a set of printed parts.
Instrumentation
• Glockenspiel
• Marimba—low A
• Drums 4 concert toms, snare drum, bass drum)
• Cymbals & gongs (ride cymbal, hi-hat, opera gong)
• Accessories (cowbell, siren whistle, bulb horn, police whistle, slide whistle, duck call, vibraphone slap)
Reviews
Alan Keown’s arrangement of Ross Bagdasarian’s “Witch Doctor,” as heard on Alvin and the Chipmunks, is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. The arrangement is full of energy, variety, and creativity. At the beginning of the score, Keown includes program notes as well as very helpful performance considerations about such things as mallet choice and how parts can be doubled (hence 9–11 players). A very clean and detailed suggested setup diagram is included with the score.
The music is the tune as we know it with a percussion break in the middle. The snare drum and bass drum players often emulate a drumset “boom-chick” part, marimba is the bass line, and the glockenspiel and xylophone players carry the melody. What is particularly fun about this arrangement is the arranger’s use of sound effect interjections (whistles, blocks, etc.) and his decision to pass solos around the ensemble.
Where the arrangement really comes alive is the percussion break in the middle. It is essentially a trap solo passed around six players. Cowbell, whistles, and sirens are featured as well as a snare and tom solo. However, as Keown mentions in the performance notes, the duck call player shines here.
I would recommend this arrangement with the highest enthusiasm for a middle school or high school percussion ensemble that is looking for something challenging, yet fun and exciting. This one is guaranteed to get laughter and robust applause from the audience.
–Justin Bunting
Percussive Notes
Vol. 57, No. 2, November 2017
• Glockenspiel
Her presence is commanding, as if she is commanding the elements themselves. She has an aura about her that is undoubtedly supernatural, and it is impossible to ignore. Her voice, when she speaks, is almost hypnotic. It carries a melody that is both enchanting and eerie. It is a voice that can soothe a restless soul or send shivers down your spine, depending on her mood. And her words, carefully chosen and deliberate, hold an immense power that is difficult to explain. There are whispers among the townsfolk, the whispers of an ancient prophecy. They say that Arr is the chosen one, the one who will bring balance to our world. They say that she has been gifted with unimaginable powers, powers that can shape the very fabric of reality. But despite the tales and rumors, Arr remains an enigma. She keeps to herself, rarely revealing her true intentions. Some fear her, calling her a witch, while others worship her, believing her to be a deity in human form. Arr is witch. There is no denying this fact. But what her purpose is, what her true intentions are, remains a mystery. Perhaps we will never know. Perhaps her magical nature is meant to remain a secret. Whatever the case may be, one thing is for certain - Arr is witch, and she holds a power that is beyond our comprehension..
Reviews for "The Enchanting Beauty of Arr: Exploring its Aesthetic in Witchcraft"
- Sarah - 1 star - "I really didn't enjoy 'Arr is witch'. The story was confusing and disjointed, making it difficult to follow along. The characters were also poorly developed, and I couldn't connect with any of them. Overall, I found the book to be disappointing and not worth my time."
- Michael - 2 stars - "I had high hopes for 'Arr is witch' based on the synopsis, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The pacing was extremely slow, and the plot seemed to drag on without much excitement. Additionally, the dialogue was often unnatural and forced, making it difficult to stay engaged. I was ultimately left unsatisfied with the book."
- Emily - 2 stars - "I struggled to get through 'Arr is witch'. The writing style was overly descriptive and bogged down the narrative. The author seemed to prioritize flowery language over substance, and as a result, the story lacked depth. I found myself skimming paragraphs just to get through the book, and I wouldn't recommend it to others."