Rhythmic Ostinato composition* 

Write two measures of music for an unpitched percussion instrument.  It should include a combination of notes and rests.  Repeat it exactly, four times, creating an ostinato.  

After this first instrument has repeated those two measures four times, add a second unpitched percussion instrument, playing two measures of different music also repeating as an ostinato, while the first instrument continues to play their ostinato.  The second instrument should feature rhythms that fit between the notes of the first instrument (notes in the second part should occur during the rests in the first part, etc.).  Try to leave a few spaces without any notes because you will want to fill them with the next two instruments.

After four repetitions with the first two instruments, add a third in the same manner.  Continue until you have four instruments playing complementary rhythms.

​Once you feel the four parts have played together long enough, write something entirely new for them to play together to end the piece.  The ending can be as long as you want, but should be at least four measures long.  The ending could be loud or soft.  Your composition should have a nice groove to it because of the interplay between the parts and the repetitions.

First published (in slightly varied form) in Music:  A Brief Introduction, copyright 2021