I often wish I could play castanets without mounting them on handles or in a castanet machine? If anyone else thought the same, be sure to check out today’s video featuring Lucero Tena (Castanets) on the Voices for Peace Concert (2007) in Madrid.
After watching this video, I think I will stick to my Epstein mounted castanets.
What other concertos have been written for accessory instruments? What is your favorite castanet piece or excerpt? Let us know. Leave a comment below.
Originally posted on DrummChattr.com on February 15, 2011.
Today’s video features Bill Cahn playing Joe Green’s Xylophonia with Nexus and Steve Gadd on drum set. Make sure you check out the drum break in the middle of the song to see Steve Gadd tap dance! This video is from a live performance in 1988 at Gotanda Kan-I Hoken Hall in Japan.
What is you favorite xylophone rag? Have you ever seen Steve Gadd tap dance? Let us know.
John Serry’s Night Rhapsody for solo marimba is one of the great early pieces in the contemporary marimba repertoire. While still clearly “Serry-esque”, his new work Groundlines deviates significantly from his masterwork of over 30 years ago. Featuring Dies Irae quotes and Sonata Form, Night Rhapsody features a clear connection to the romantic era of western classical music. That connection seems to be missing entirely from Groundlines leaving us with pure compositional mechanics. Check out the video to formulate some reactions to this new work expertly performed by Ji Hye Jung.
What are your thoughts on Serry’s compositional shift with Groundlines? What are your impressions of the work as a whole?
One of the posts in the Chattr Section asks what people are playing on their recitals. One of my go to books for multi-percussion is Steve Schick’s “The Percussionist’s Art.” It presents a fantastic amount of analysis of several works and on the art of playing in general. One of the pieces in our repertoire, that I think is often forgotten in “XY”, by Michael Gordon, so for today’s post, here is Steve Schick performing XY.
Have you ever played “XY,” or seen it played live? What is your favorite Multi-Percussion Piece?
Originally posted on DrummChattr.com on February 2, 2011.
Happy Sunday everyone! We thought it would be a good idea to lighten things up with some classic drummer humor. This video speaks to the tried and true drummer stereotype that louder, faster equals better. All kidding aside, why do you think this stereotype exists? Name ONE factor that you think contributes most to this frustrating but humorous stereotype. Leave your thoughts in the comments.
Thanks to Payton MacDonald for the tip.
Originally posted on DrummChattr.com on January 23, 2011.
Panorama, the National Steel Drum Festival in Trinidad and Tobago, is in full swing. The panorama groups have been preparing for the competition which happens every year on the Saturday before Lent. The groups are made up of 100 performers. For full coverage of the 2011 Panorama Festival, visit Pan on the Net’s website.
One of my all time favorite tunes from Panorama is Lord Kitchener’s Pan in A Minor. This award winning 1987 performance is by the Renegades Steel Drum Orchestra directed by Jit Samaroo. The Renegades, and Jit’s arrangements, are know for there tight engine room (rhythm section) and use of unison hits throughout the arrangement.
Is this the first Panorama video you have ever watched? What is your favorite Panorama tune or arranger? Leave a comment below and let us know.
Originally posted on DrumChattr on January 21, 2011 by Dave Gerhart.
