O Duo Talking Drums Contents

3 About the concert

4 About O Duo

6 Programme

7 Meet our musicians

9 About the instruments

12 Activities

16 Artsmark and Arts Award

17 About Wigmore Hall About the concert This is a one-hour concert for Key Stage 2 students and their teachers.

Join virtuoso percussionists Owen and Toby, otherwise known as O Duo, as they squeeze as much percussion as they can fit onto the Wigmore Hall stage!

It’s not just about drums – although there will be all sorts of African and Brazilian drums onstage, the duo bring with them marimbas, a vibraphone, glockenspiel, xylophone and kalimbas, to play a diverse mix of music from composers including Frédéric Chopin, Tito Puente, Philip Glass and much more!

3 About o duo O Duo, the UK’s busiest percussion duo, consists of two award winning percussionists: Owen Gunnell and Toby Kearney. Graduates of the Royal College of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music respectively, they were also both BBC Young Musician percussion winners, Owen in the year 2000 followed by Toby in 2006.

O Duo released its first CD on the Sony BMG label in 2007 to critical acclaim, including being featured as CD of the week in The Daily Telegraph. Making a great impact on the UK music scene, the duo has broadcast with BBC Radio 2 and 3, Classic FM, and recorded with the BBC Symphony Chorus. Outstanding communicators, Owen and Toby have worked in broadcasting including TV, film and radio performances at Abbey Road, Sony studios, Channel 4, ITV, BBC Television in over 30 other countries.

Renowned for their ‘phenomenal artistry’ (The Daily Telegraph), O Duo has performed across the world. Highlights include appearing three times at the BBC Proms, performing Xenakis’s rarely performed work, Plaiedes, a collaboration with the BBC singers performing a world premiere by , and most recently giving a world premiere of a newly discovered work by Bernstein for 2 pianos and percussion in 2018.

4 They have also performed at the Last Night of in Hyde Park and have given recitals at the Wigmore Hall, Cheltenham, St Magnus and City of Festivals among many others. O Duo gave the premiere of Stephen McNeff’s Concert O-Duo at the Barbican as part of BBC Symphony ’s 80th birthday concert, and have performed an eclectic repertoire including Bartók’s Sonata with Artur Pizzarro and Vita Panomariovaite, and music by Moondog (the iconic American composer) at the Barbican.

Orchestral performances include concerto appearances with the BBC Philharmonic, BBC Concert Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, London Philharmonic and Philharmonia . In 2013 O Duo gave the world premiere of Fraser Trainer’s new percussion concerto firstly with Sinfonia ViVA and then with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

O Duo’s repertoire spans more than 300 years and is an invigorating mix of popular classics and accessible contemporary music played on two marimbas, vibraphone and a huge array of percussion. They continue to be passionate about commissioning new work and expanding the percussion duo repertoire. They also have a firm commitment in music education, being involved in many projects with orchestras and festivals, as well as Toby being Head of Percussion at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and Owen having teaching positions at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal College of Music, and being Artistic Director of Children’s Classic Concerts in Scotland.

5 programme

Dance Of The Drums Gene Koshinski

Prelude Johann Sebastian Bach

Black Key Etude Frédéric Chopin

Latin Fury Tito Peunte, Compay Segundo, Antônio Carlos Jobim

Bye Bye Medley Bob Becker

Clapping Music Steve Reich

Etude Philip Glass

Talking drums Owen Gunnell, Toby Kearney

Film Medley Elton John, Tim Rice, John Williams, Michael Giacchino Arranged by Andrew Cottee

6 Meet Our Musicians Hello! Please tell us how I Duo was created: The duo was created in 2001/2002 at the Royal College of Music. We started doing background music gigs at museums, then we did violin concertos on marimba in period costume and our own show at the Edinburgh Fringe.

What is your favourite venue that you’ve ever played in? Owen: Impossible to answer!! As we’ve played in so many... My favourite place to go though is Orkney for the St Magnus festival!

What’s the best thing about being a duo? Best things about being a duo - Playing music, hanging out with someone and going all over the world!

7 Meet Our Musicians

Q&A with Toby What is your favorite instrument to play? Bass drum! It’s big and loud so everyone listens to you, but you can also play quiet rumbles.

If you weren’t a musician, what job would you like to do instead? I’d be a food critic. I love cooking but I love eating even more! Imagine if you could just go to work and eat amazing food all day long.

How did you decide to play percussion and when did you start? When I was 7 I started playing the violin, but my brother played drums and I thought it was so much cooler. So when I was 11 I switched to percussion and ditched the violin!

Q&A with Owen What is the best thing about being a musician? Playing music! Not one day is ever the same!

If you weren’t a musician, what job would you like to do instead? I’d love to be a professional surfer - absolutely no chance of that happening, but at least I can still try and do it!

Who else would you like to duet with (apart from Toby)? I’m lucky to play with lots of different people as it is, so I don’t think I’ve missed out playing with anyone!

How did you decide to play percussion and when did you start? I started playing percussion when I was around 13. I played piano, cornet and the French horn and wasn’t very good at them - I didn’t practice enough! So I also decided to copy my brother, who is a professional percussionist as well now!

8 about the instruments

What is a talking drum!!?

A talking drum is an instrument from West Africa, which you play with a stick, holding the drum under your arm. It’s called a talking drum because you can change the pitch of it by pushing the string in and out making it sound like someone talking, mirroring speech, because when we talk we use lots of different pitches.

5 OCTAVE MARIMBA Y The marimbas on stage are made of cherry wood on the frame and the notes are made of rosewood, there are 56 keys on each of them. Y The marimba is one of the earliest melodic instruments made by man, although references suggest it was widespread throughout Asia Owen: In the 1000's of gigs I have and Africa, there is no record of the played I have only ever forgotten exact location of where the first one piece of the marimba in model was made. transportation. Luckily my brother Y The word ‘marimba’ originated came to the rescue and got it to from the African language Bantu me in time for the gig! which is spoken in Mozambique and in Malawi. Create by the word ‘ma’ meaning ‘a great number of objects’ and the word ‘rimba’ meaning ‘xylophone with a single bar.’ 9 about the instruments

VIBRAPHONE Y The vibraphone, or vibes for short, has metal notes and a pedal, that’s why it sounds quite different to the marimba. Because its metal it means it rings, the pedal is there to dampen the sound it when it rings too long. Y You can use a bow from a double bass to play the vibraphone. Instead of hitting the instrument, a percussionist will ‘bow’ the keys, creating a different sound that is more sustained than when a percussionist uses a beater. Composers often use this effect to make different sounds or ‘timbres’ with the same instrument.

XYLOPHONE and GLOCKENSPIEL

Y The xylophone has wooden notes of a higher pitch than the marimba. Y The glockenspiel has metal notes of a higher pitch than the vibraphone. Y The xylophone is often used to musically signify skeletons! Y Small xylophones are commonly used in classroom music sessions.

THE CONCH 10 about the instruments

Y Due to the loud sound it makes, the conch is sometimes used for non- musical purposes. In Grenada they blow it from their fishing boats as they come into shore to tell the community they are coming back with fish! Owen: Although my conch was bought from a shop, it is a real DRUMS AND MORE DRUMS shell! I had to cut the end off O Duo will have lots of different drums in order to make a sound when I on stage, here are a couple you will see: blow into it.

BONGOS Y Bongo drums are a pair of open bottom drums attached together and can be played with hands or sticks. Y Musicians who play bongo drums are referred to as bongoseros! Y To keep the skin of the drum from drying out and cracking, bongos can be maintained with drum oils. Congas at the Concert... you will see O Duo playing congas CONGAS with sticks! Y The conga drum is a tall and narrow drum which has a drum head with screws for tuning. Y There are five main strokes used when playing the conga drums- the open tone, muffled or mute tone, bass tone, slap tone, and the touch tone. Y The tradition of playing the conga drum is passed from one generation to the next in Cuba. 11 Activities

NAME RHYTHMS ACTIVITIES

Rhythm is around us every day; from the noise of traffic to "conversations% % & % with% & each other,% % we% % & Piano Ŋ " O wen O wen can make music out of these noises or sounds. # " % % % % % % % % % % Almost all music hasTo rhythmby To by in it; you listen to Handclap $ " % % & % % & music with "words in Oitwen withinO wen any genre such as Handclap $ " % % % % pop, rock or" classicalTo youby To canby clap along with 6 the words and see! Ŋ % % % % & " % % % % % % % % % Pn. O wen O wen My name is O wen I like foot ball # % % % % % % " % % % % % % % % To by To by To by " Mi a runs fast and wins the race EXAMPLE 1 & 2 Clap " Working in pairs,$ let’s start by making some grooves up by breaking" down the Clap syllables in our$ names. Individually decide on the rhythms and" speed of how you would like10 to say your name (don’t worry about the pitch!) and then see how the" names sound together% % & % %when& you start at the% same% % time.% & Piano Ŋ " O wen O wen Pn. Ŋ # " % % % % % % % % % % " # To by To by Handclap " Clap $ " $ O% wen% & O% wen% & O% wen% O% wen% & Handclap " Clap $ " $ To% by% To% by% To% by% To% by% To% by% 6 15

Next you% can% try% % using& body percussion to demonstrate" % %the% rhythms% % % % such% as% Ŋ O wen OŊ wen " My name is O wen I like foot ball Pn.clapping/clicking/stamping.Pn. You could do this as well as vocally saying the names# % or% %do% one#% or% the other. " % % % % % % % % To by To by To by " Mi a runs fast and wins the race Clap Clap $ % % % % % % % % % " % % & % % & $ My name is O wen I like foot ball " O wen O wen Clap $ Clap " $ Mi% a% runs% fast% and% wins% the% race% " To% by% To% by% 10

Pn. Ŋ #

Clap $ O% wen% O% wen% & Clap 12 $ To% by% To% by% To% by%

15

Pn. Ŋ #

Clap $ My% name% is% O% wen% I% like% foot% ball% O% wen% & O% wen% &

Clap $ Mi% a% runs% fast% and% wins% the% race% To% by% To% by% Composer

Soprano " " & & & & Ŋ " " Bob Bob Bob Bob Alto " " & & & ' & & & ' Ŋ " " 3 3 Mo ham med Mo ham med Tenor " " ' & & & & ' ' Ŋ# " " Al ex an dra Bass $ " " & & ' & & " " Mi a Mi a Handclap " % " " Handclap " % " " Handclap " % " " Handclap " % " " 4 activities S. Ŋ

A. Ŋ EXAMPLE 3

T. Once you’ve experimented with different rhythms in pairs, put two sets of pairs Ŋ# Ŋ " % % & % % & % % % % & together andPiano see how four names Ofitwen together!O wen B. $ # " % % % % % % % % % % " To by To by Clap % & & & & & & & & Bob Bob Bob BobHandclap " Bob Bob Bob Bob 3 3 $ " 3 O% wen% & O% wen% & 3 Clap Handclap % Mo& ham& med& ' Mo& ham& med& ' " Mo& ham& med& ' Mo& ham& med& ' $ " To% by% To% by% Clap 6 % ' Al& ex& an& dra& ' ' ' Al& ex& an& dra& ' '

Clap " % & & ' & & Ŋ % % % &% & & ' & & " % % % % % % % % % Mi a Mi aPn. O wen O Miwen a Mi a My name is O wen I like foot ball # % % % % % % " % % % % % % % % As a little tip, it’s Toquiteby To helpfulby To by to have a one syllable name on" theMi a beatruns holdingfast and itwins the race together. ClapFor example, a name like Bob on every ‘counting beat’- instead of 1, 2, 3, $ " 4 it wouldClap be Bob, Bob, Bob, Bob. $ " 10 Then you could transfer the rhythms onto percussion instruments such as drums and shakers. As before, you could do this as well as vocally saying the names or Pn. Ŋ do one or the other. #

Clap $ O% wen% O% wen% &

Clap EXAMPLE 4 $ To% by% To% by% To% by%

After you’ve explored15 name rhythms, you can try building extended rhythms by incorporating the names into a short sentence and again having a beat on each

syllable. E.g.Pn. MyŊ name is ___ and I like ___. #

Clap $ My% name% is% O% wen% I% like% foot% ball% O% wen% & O% wen% &

Clap $ Mi% a% runs% fast% and% wins% the% race% To% by% To% by%

Add a Conductor! Now get into bigger groups (no less than six) and pick a conductor. The conductor will have to bring in the musicians (why not try at different time?), give and idea of louds and softs (dynamics), indicate how fast they’d like it (the tempo) and show everybody when to switch between saying or playing their name. 13 activities

Body Percussion Activities Using your body, and following the key, can you work your way through the following examples? Why not try do them in a group? Can you do them at the same time?

KEY NB. Always give 4 counts in

= stamp = thighs = chest = clap = click/2 finger claps

Group Body Drum Kit Now, split into three groups and make your own Body Percussion Drum Kit using the following rhythms!

14 activities

Let’s try some samba rhythms! Samba is a musical genre and type of dance originating in Brazil. Can you split into 4 groups and bring in each group, one at a time?

Now, make up your own body percussion!

15 Does your school have Artsmark status or run Arts Award?

Did you know that taking part in projects, concerts and workshops can contribute towards both?

Artsmark is Arts Council England’s flagship programme to enable schools and other organisations to evaluate, strengthen and celebrate their arts and cultural provision.

For more information including how to apply for Artsmark status visit: www.artsmark.org.uk

Wigmore Hall Learning is a proud supporter of Artsmark and Arts Award. If taking part in a project, workshop or concert with us has contributed to your Artsmark status or your students’ Arts Award please tell us!

You can contact us on 020 7258 8240 or by emailing us at [email protected]

16 About Wigmore Hall

Europe’s leading venue for chamber music and song, OUR PROGRAMME… Wigmore Hall currently presents over 400 concerts a year in Schools includes schools concerts; teacher training; projects addition to 500 education events. Many of the Hall’s concerts with hospital schools; and our innovative Partner Schools are recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3, including a live Programme, in which we work in partnership with schools broadcast every Monday lunchtime. and Music Education Hubs to co-produce activity over three years, creating a creative whole school plan for music. Wigmore Hall is renowned for its excellent acoustics and intimate atmosphere. It has just 550 seats compared with Family invites families to Wigmore Hall to take part in nearly 6,000 at the . The size of the Hall inspiring, interactive workshops and concerts for families makes it ideal for singers and small groups of players. with babies, children in their early years and children aged These are ensembles that would have originally been heard 5+. in people’s living rooms! Young People offers a range of projects, offers and events including a growing programme for young people with Wigmore Hall was built in 1901 and is a beautiful example Autism Spectrum Conditions; our free ticket scheme of Renaissance-style architecture and many original Chamber Zone, and Young Producers, which invites 14 – 18 characteristics remain - gas lights are still lit for every year-olds to programme, plan, promote and present their concert. Wigmore Hall’s auditorium features a cupola own concert at Wigmore Hall. above the stage with a beautiful mural depicting the ‘Soul of Music’. Community Partnerships includes Music for Life, our extensive programme for people living with dementia and Since 1994, Wigmore Hall’s renowned Learning programme their families, friends and carers; and projects with the has been giving people of all ages, backgrounds and Cardinal Hume Centre, which enables people to gain the abilities opportunities to take part in creative music making, skills they need to overcome poverty and homelessness. engaging a broad and diverse audience through innovative creative projects, concerts, workshops and online resources. Pathways is a range of schemes and events with provides a platform for emerging artists, supporting the next We are passionate about the impact music can have on generation of musicians and leaders. It includes our our lives and on our society, and three core values lie at annual Trainee Music Leader, Royal Academy of Music / the heart of our programme: creativity, collaboration and Wigmore Hall Fellowship Ensemble and RPS / Wigmore equality. These values reflect the spirit of chamber music, Hall Apprentice Composer schemes, as well as Bechstein and we embody them through quality, co-created music Sessions, a new series of informal performances which making, through which every voice is heard and equally showcase emerging talent. valued. Behind the Music is a programme of study events including We collaborate with a range of community, education, arts, talks, lecture-recitals, masterclasses, study groups and health and social care organisations, working in partnership Come and Sing. days to engage people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to take part.

For further details about Wigmore Hall Learning contact us: [email protected] 020 7258 8240 www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/learning

Original pack written by Lucy Drever and O Duo, edited by Stacey Campkin 2020 version written by O Duo and edited by Wigmore Hall Learning Designed by Susannah Swift Design Ltd www.susannahswift.co.uk 17