People and Places; in Memoriam: Minoru Miki; Recent Donations
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solo and percussion trio, both composed by Kaiser, as well as compositions by all of the people and places other ensemble members. On Oct. 2, he played a concert titled “Organ and Percussion” at the Artionale Festival in Munich. Works included CANADA Following this event, Répercussion appeared “Blackwood Solaris” and “Phaikon 493,” both anadian percussion quartet Répercussion as guests of the Longueuil Symphony Orches- for organ and percussion and composed by performed in Montreal for two special tra as part of the annual Longueuil Percussion Kaiser. eventsC during its 2011 season. The first event Festival. The group performed a five-movement ITALY featured Répercussion as the invited guests of piece composed especially for them titled “A Concerto Della Donna, a dynamic group of Celebration on Five Continents” by Montreal eander Kaiser won third prize at the In- young female singers under the direction of composer Yves Lapierre. ternational Composition Contest of PAS Maestro Iwan Edwards (former Choir Director ItalyL in Fermo with his composition “Schatten- GERMANY for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra). This SägenFuge” for piccolo and field drum. In his concert included music from Africa and South n Oct. 9, 2011, Leander Kaiser played category, Percussion Duo to Sextet, no first or America for women’s choir and percussion, in- at Schlossberghalle/Starnberg-Germany second prize was awarded this year. The virtuo- cluding a new work composed by Répercussion withO his ensemble, Index4 Percussion Quar- sic drum-fugue will be published by Beurskens member Robert Lépine and a composition by tet. Works included “Minotaurus 4.3” for ma- Music in Holland. Répercussion’s Aldo Mazza. rimba solo and “Bayon Pearnik” for marimba JAPAN n eMorIaM ill Cahn, a member of Nexus and an I M Associate Professor of Percussion at the MInoru MIkI EastmanB School of Music, returned to Japan in 2011 to conduct his 11th residency at the 1930–2011 Showa Music Academy in Kawasaki since 1998. Bill’s activities included: being soloist apanese composer Minoru Miki died on on a gala percussion concert in the academy’s JDecember 8, 2011, after a ten-year battle opera house; teaching 44 private lessons; with prostate cancer. giving 11 small ensemble coaching sessions; Miki was born on March 16, 1930 in the conducting a Creative Music Making (freeform Akui-cho district of Tokushima City, Japan. improvisation) workshop; participating in He took up choir in high school and attend- a videotaped interview by students in the ed the Tokyo National University of Fine English language class; and presenting a Arts and Music. He studied with Tomojiro formal address to the Showa faculty and Ikenouchi and Akira Ifukube, and graduated administration. with a composition degree in 1955. ThE NEThERLANDS After graduation, Miki composed music for TV, movies, and choirs, including “Ku- he Netherlands PAS Chapter held its rudando” (1963), a cantata for traditional 6th Annual Day of Percussion on Oct. Japanese instruments and mixed chorus. 1,T 2011 in Kerkrade, hosted by Rob Janssen The instrumentalists from this performance and Michel Mordant. The day started with served as the nucleus in 1964 to form a new Spiritual,” all pieces that were commissioned some new features, starting with a master ensemble, Pro Musica Nipponia. Miki com- and premiered by Abe, Miki composed class on flute by Wiek Karsten. Also an posed 33 works for Pro Musica Nipponia percussion ensembles and chamber works unusual but interesting session was given and organized tours and concerts around the that utilize percussion and marimba. His by Johnny Eeckhaut, who led a master class world. In addition to Pro Musica Nipponia, most recent percussion ensemble work, “Z on Huntingband instruments and explained Miki focused much of his career to combine Conversion,” was given its United States the in and outs regarding horns, trumpets, Japanese culture with Asian and western premiere at PASIC 2006 and later recorded baritones, and basses. Hans Zonderop, a influences through his works and various by the Texas A&M University-Commerce member of the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest ensembles he organized. Percussion Ensemble. Other works include and a teacher at Koninklijk Conservatorium Miki founded and composed music for “Z Concerto” (a percussion duet concerto) the Hague demonstrated some interesting the Yui Ensemble in 1990, a chamber group and small percussion ensembles “Dotoh,” snare drum techniques. He also explained playing Asian and western instruments. He “Kincho Daiko,” and “Yoshitsune Daiko.” tuning, snare tensioning, sticks, and more. published a book, The Theory of Composing for Other chamber works with marimba include Ruud Wiener presented a master class on Japanese Instruments, and he wrote nine full- “Sohmon III” for marimba, soprano, and pi- marimba and vibraphone. The final concert length operas tracing 1,500 years of Japanese ano, “East Arc” for marimba, violin, cello and included the Huntingband from the master history. pipa, and “Marim Dan-Dan” for marimba class, Het Trompetterkorps van de Belgische Miki also worked with marimbist Keiko and two percussionists. Gidsen (directed by Eeckhaut), and Igor Abe to build the repertoire and capabili- Miki composed over 200 works in many Hobus, drummer of the rock group De ties of marimba performance. Since first different genres and instrument combina- Heideroosjes, who played some of the band’s working with Abe in 1968, percussion was tions and worked diligently to bring Japanese hits accompanied by the percussion group a large part of his compositional output. In culture to people all across the world through Concordia Leveroy (directed by Roy Janssen). addition to “Time for Marimba,” “Concerto his music. Thanks to our sponsors: PAS, Huis Voor De for Marimba and Orchestra,” and “Marimba Kunsten Limburg, Adams, RAWI Percussion Publications, Majestic, Pustjens Percussion FEBRUARY 2012 4 pERcUssion nEws www.pas.org Products, ABC Percussion Mallets, LBT Jaar, Illinois Buerskens Muziekuitgeverij, Beurskens Music he Southern Illinois University Carbon- Editions, PaBo Music, Percussion Advice dale (SIUC) Percussion Department (Ron Centre, and Kreato Centrum voor de Kunsten. CoulterT , director) hosted mbira masters Cau- tion Shonhai and Erica Azim for three days of USA workshops and concerts Sept. 6–8, 2011. Alabama r. Norman Weinberg (University of Ari- Indiana zona) was in residency at the University hops Percussion hosted Todd Sucherman ofD South Alabama (Michael Sammons, host) for a clinic at Paige’s Music in India- in Mobile, and appeared as a guest artist/soloist napolisC on Nov. 8, 2011. Due to the large at- with the USA Percussion Ensemble on Nov. tendence, the event was held in Paige’s Music, 21 and 22, 2011. Weinberg performed Paul allowing an estimated 120 people to enjoy all Bissell’s “Alabados Song” with the percussion that the clinic had to offer. Sucherman per- ensemble as well as “Ambient Resonances” formed an opening solo, prompting the first by Peter Klatzow and “CaDance for Two” of many standing ovations from the audience. by Andy Pape with Sammons. During his Todd performed various tracks and conducted residency, Weinberg gave several clinics and a Q&A session with the crowd. As door prizes lectures on technology and music. Sponsors for were given away, everyone moved to Chops this event included Yamaha, Vic Firth, Remo, Percussion for an autograph and photo session Grover Pro Percussion, and Zildjian. with Sucherman. Arkansas kentucky n Nov. 6, 2011, Dr. Brett Dietz (Louisi- r. Andy Bliss, Interim Director of Per- ana State University) presented a master cussion Studies at the University of class-clinicO at Ouachita Baptist University in Tennessee,D presented a lecture on the history Arkadelphia. Dietz heard student performances and relevance of multiple percussion to the on marimba and xylophone and presented Campbellsville University Percussion Studio, techniques for achieving musicality and devel- under the direction of Dr. Chad Floyd, on oping facility using keyboard percussion grips. Dec. 7, 2011. Bliss also presented a master class Dietz and saxophonist Dr. Griffith Campbell while on campus. The event was sponsored by (Lousiana State University) presented a concert Yamaha, Innovative Percussion, Evans, and that evening that included selections from Song Black Swamp. Book for Alto Saxophone and Marimba by David Maslanka, “Breathless” by David Stock for Mississippi saxophone and vibraphone, and Dietz’s “Seven r. Andy Harnsberger (Lee University) Ghosts Above the Landscape” for saxophone was in residence at Mississippi State Uni- and drumset composed in response to Hur- versityD in November. He presented a clinic and ricane Katrina. Both events were made possible was the featured artist on the MSU percussion through the support of Dynasty, Innovative ensemble concert, which featured his pieces Percussion, and the Division of Music. “DIN,” “Palmetto Moon,” and “Vertigo” with Jason Baker, Andy Harnsberger and members of the MSU percussion studio www.pas.org pERcUssion nEWS 5 FEBRUARY 2012 the MSU Percussion Ensemble. Harnsberger recent DonatIons also performed his marimba works “April Sun” and “Words Unspoken,” and gave the world By otIce c. sIrcy, Pas curator anD LIBrarIan premiere of his new piece, “Phoenix.” The event was hosted by Jason Baker and was co-spon- he PAS museum has received a vintage donated a traditional four-row xylophone, sored by Pearl/Adams, Innovative Percussion, Tdrumset from Ronnie LaGrone, a gift that manufactured by A. Müller, Berlin. Michael Sabian, Evans, and Grover Pro Percussion. includes two 14 x 3 snare drums, a Gretsch Vercilli sent disassembled pieces of an Af- 14 x 5½ white marine pearl snare drum, and a rican gyil, including a calabash gourd, one Ohio 12 x 26 8-lug, single-tension Leedy Reliance hardwood bar, part of the frame, and leather n Nov. 6, as part of The Big Beat 2011, wooden bass drum with maple hoops, deco- thongs. This donation is presently included in John Sferra and Tom Shelley played rated with a scroll-shaped decal “Seiberling- an exhibit in the Rhythm! Discovery Center’s toO several recorded tracks by the Phil Keaggy Lucas/Music Co./Portland [OR].” Additional long gallery.