Good heavens. A double CD of contemporary Canadian music for snare drum. Is this even acceptable? Can anyone stand it? What? You can, you must, you should. Absolutely. Don’t worry. Even though the snare drum, played by Ryan Scott, is at the center of this “project” funded by the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts, other percussion instruments also feature, such as the bass drum, large drum, cymbal, metal plates, and various types of recorded tracks.

But the result is a really awesome musical puzzle. Even though it actually starts on CD 1 with pure snare drum sound played using completely conventional drumming techniques. Yeah, and at first that fuels the fear that you’re going to be stuck with this super-boring stuff for the next few hours. Think so? You better listen!

But these worlds that Ryan Scott and the fourteen composers develop, unravel, and weave together are, in a figurative sense, like strolling through an exhibition of contemporary visual art. Each composition stands on its own—or rather, sounds on its own—and invites quiet contemplation, or rather, attentive listening. Sometimes it’s delicate, sometimes epically hazy, and sometimes crystal clear.

A must-listen! A kaleidoscope of sound and percussion artistry, free of any self-pity or pretentious posturing; a celebration of diversity that’s a joy to experience.