““Psalm 104” is a multiple percussion solo set in four contrasting sections. It has a fairly large setup of four toms, piccolo snare drum, kick bass, bongos, and four varying cymbals. The performer is required to use double-sided sticks (wood/felt) and wire brushes.

Blume states that “Psalm 104” was written to depict some God-like characteristics through the use of drums and cymbals, and he identifies the sections of the psalm that were used as the impetus for the varying sections of the solo.

After a stunning opening statement, the piece subsides into a melancholy section that quickly progresses into a powerful allegro section. Here, a continual bongo ostinato rhythm is sporadically interrupted with fast, virtuosic fills that require good coordination between the hands and bass drum foot. After a brief fermata, the piece transitions into a flowing, gentle section that asks the performer to execute a dichotomy between the two hands: One hand decrescendos while the other hand crescendos. This section slowly dissipates into a “freely” section with ad libitum brushes swells and swishes. The piece concludes with a brief presto section with fast sixteenth-note figures dispersed throughout all of the instruments.

“Psalm 104” is an exciting multipercussion solo that is appropriate for advanced high school or intermediate university students.”