Percussion quartets are the most abundant compositions in the genre of

percussion ensemble. This study presents a chronological list of 651 compositions

for percussion quartet and a performance guide of six selected works. The

performance guide includes examinations of Vespertine Formations by

Christopher Deane (2003), Ku-Ka-Ilimoku by Christopher Rouse (1981), Ritual

Music: Variations on the Numbers 2 and 4 by David Skidmore (2005), The

Doomsday Machine by Michael Burritt (1990), Threads by Paul Lansky (2008),

and Omphalo Centric Lecture by Nigel Westlake (1984). These six works

represent the top selling contemporary percussion quartets in 2011, two works in

each instrumental grouping: pitched instrumentation, non-pitched

instrumentation, and mixed instrumentation.