“Colin Bell’s cross-genre experience makes him uniquely suited as a modern percussion composer. He combines traditional percussion elements with modern audio production techniques to bring a fresh approach to floor and field”
“Colin Bell’s compositions are written with his distinct, unique, fresh and creative musical voice. He has the ability to develop ideas into well-written pieces rich in texture and technique. Colin is also an impressive collaborator who is able to weave ideas together with cohesion and beauty. Not one note is written without meaning and thought. He is a fantastic educator and his love of music is easily heard in the passion of his writing. ”
Breakthrough: A Composer’s Journey
Indoor Percussion Show - Intermediate/Advanced Level
Digital audio and front ensemble music by Colin Bell, battery music by Kirby Marino
Based on the original chamber ensemble version of Appalachian Spring (Ballet for Martha), by Aaron Copland
Sitting in their home studio, a composer begins to form a new idea for a musical composition. As the initial melodic ideas rush to the mind, the composer experiences the highs of creativity and the lows of writer’s block. In the end, the composer has their breakthrough, and their composition is fully realized.
composed for United Percussion 2 (Camden County, NJ) , 2020 PIA (possibly PIO). United’s season was sadly cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This March 14th video was the final performance for ensemble. The entire indoor percussion community abruptly lost their season in mid-March.
Visitor
Indoor Percussion Show - Advanced Level
Original music by Colin Bell
Front ensemble music by Colin Bell, battery percussion by Robert Thatcher
On a red desolate planet, the members of the ensemble are strange alien creatures. A crashed lunar module is a curiosity to these creatures. Garbled radio transmissions and sounds emanate from the module, and the “Visitor” is not what is expected.
composed for Old Bridge High School (Old Bridge, NJ) , 2018 PSO Silver Medal WGI World Championships
Scenes From the Woods
Indoor Percussion Show - Intermediate/Advanced Level
Arranged by Colin Bell
Based on the marimba quartet “Scenes From the Woods” by Brian Blume.
An old-world explorer stumbles into a mystical forrest where woodland creatures cautiously reveal themselves, and eventually invite the explorer into their magical world of music and ceremony. After discovering this magical and wonderful hidden world, the explorer decides to not reveal it’s position, and keep it secret.
arranged for Hempifield High School (Lancaster, PA), 2019
Supernova
Marching Band Intro and Opener - Easy/Intermediate Level
Percussion music arranged by Colin Bell, wind music arranged by Mark Figueroa
Introduction music based on the Echo Movement song “In the Beginning”, by David Fowler
Opener music based on “Of Sailors and Whales” by W. Francis McBeth
Supernova is a showed based on cosmic themes. This is the opening of the show, which demonstrates the use of digital audio and vocals to create the scene of the Big Bang.
arranged for Penn Manor High School (Lancaster, PA), 2018
D-Day - Remembering Heroes
Marching Band Introduction and Opener - Advanced Level
Digital audio and front ensemble music by Colin Bell, battery percussion by Robert Thatcher, wind music arranged by Dennis Argul
Introduction music, original music by Colin Bell
Opener music based on “War Dance” from Belkis, Queen of Sheba by Ottorino Respighi
An energetic opening right from the downbeat, this introduction paints the picture of the moments leading up to the invasion of Normandy Beach on D-Day. A bombastic arrangement of War Dance represents the conflict of storming the beaches.
arranged for Old Bridge High School (Old Bridge, NJ), 2015
Weihai Road No. 3 Elementary School (Shanghai, China)
Elementary School Marching Band Show
Yes, an elementary school marching band! This school is taught by teachers from Motif Music, a music education company in Shanghai that provides music, instruction, uniforms, and instruments to school programs. They have a diverse set of programs in marching band, marching percussion, concert band and musical theater.
The wind music is arranged by Colin Bell, and the percussion music is arranged by Tony Good.