Download Percussion Ensembles - Bass Performance Hall

Children’s Education Program
of Performing Arts Fort Worth
at Bass Performance Hall
-presents-
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Texas Christian University
Percussion Ensembles
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
For Band Students
November 2, 2016
1
Dear Teachers,
We are fortunate to have Brian West and the Texas Christian University Percussion Ensembles
at Bass Performance Hall for two important concerts, introducing us to various elements of
percussion. We will hear all of the various instruments that make up the Percussion Family and
how much they can differ. Look through the materials, go online to the many resources and listen
to some of the music, paying attention to the differences in the music and how each instrument is
played.
TEKS Objectives met by this lesson
There are many TEKS objectives being met with the material covered in each of the study guide
lessons in this packet. We have chosen to look at those for middle school, but other grades could
find similar objectives which they might be able to use.
Fine Arts 117.33 (5) Historical/cultural heritage. The student relates music to history, to society,
and to culture. The student is expected to:
(A) describe aurally-presented music representing diverse styles, periods, and cultures;
(D) relate the other fine arts to music concepts.
(6) Response/evaluation. The student responds to and evaluates music and musical
performance. The student is expected to:
(A) identify criteria for evaluating performances;
(B) evaluate the quality and effectiveness of music and musical performances; and
(C) exhibit concert etiquette as an informed, actively involved listener during live performances.
These materials are for educational use only in connection with The Children’s Education
Program of Performing Arts Fort Worth at Bass Performance Hall. They are to be used in
preparation of an educational performance.
If you should have any questions or problems, feel free to call us at 817/212-4302 or email us at
the Bass Performance Hall at [email protected]. We will see you on November 2.
2
The Composers
Gordon Stout
Desperate Attitude
Gordon Stout (born 1952) is an American percussionist, composer, and educator
specializing in the marimba.
He studied composition with Joseph Schwantner, Samuel Adler, and Warren Benson, and
percussion with James Salmon and John Beck. Many of his compositions for marimba have
become standard repertoire for marimba players worldwide. In 2012 he was inducted into
the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.
He has presented solo performances as a marimba player throughout the United States and
Canada, as well as in Europe, Japan, Taiwan, and Mexico. He specializes in massive
percussion orchestras. In the summer of 1998 he was a featured marimba performer at the
World Marimba Festival in Osaka, Japan. On New Year’s Day, 2006, he conducted a 100
person marimba orchestra in the National Concert Hall in Taipei, Taiwan, as part of the
Taiwan International Percussion Convention. In November, 2015, he conducted an
orchestra of 75 people on 120 marimbas in Pennsylvania. Stout serves as professor of
percussion at the School of Music of Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York and is dedicated to
new works for marimba and supporting their composers around the world. He has two
CDs—“Welcome to Stoutland” and “The Wilder Duo” on the market.
Michael Hennagin
Duo Chopinesque
The Phantom Dances
Michael Hennagin (1936-1993) wrote instrumental and vocal music including frequently
performed pieces for choir, symphonic band and orchestra, and percussion ensemble. He
graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and his teachers included
Aaron Copland and Darius Milhaud.
Hennagin began his professional career as a Hollywood composer and arranger working in
film and television. He wrote soundtracks for the television series "Voyage to the Bottom of
the Sea.” His Duo Chopinesque for Percussion Ensemble and Walking on the Green Grass for
Choir are performed frequently.
He was named National Composer of the Year in 1975 by the Music Teachers National
Association and received awards from American Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers (ASCAP) recognizing his continued commercial influence and success.
He was composer-in-residence and taught composition until his retirement in 1992 at
the University of Oklahoma.
3
Nathan Daughtrey
The Cry
Nathan Daughtrey (b. 1975) is a performing percussionist, composer and educator. He has
performed and given masterclasses and clinics throughout the United States and across
three continents and has recorded two solo marimba albums to date – "Spiral Passages"
and "The Yuletide Marimba" – as well as several chamber music albums.
With over 60 publications for percussion ensemble, concert band, orchestra, chamber
ensembles, and soloists as well as an ever-growing number of commissions, Nathan
balances his performing with composing. Nathan's compositions appear regularly on
performances at PASIC, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Bands of America
National Percussion Festival, and in concert halls and other performance venues around
the world. His works have also been recorded on several albums by respected performers.
Dr. Daughtrey is currently a Visiting Lecturer of Percussion and Music Composition at High
Point University (NC), where he teaches applied lessons, directs the percussion ensemble
and works in collaboration with the School of Communication and Department of Dance.
David Gillingham
Whirlwind
David Gillingham earned Bachelor and Master Degrees in Instrumental Music Education
from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and the PhD in Music Theory/Composition from
Michigan State University. Dr. Gillingham has an international reputation for the works he
has written for band and percussion and many are now considered standards in the
repertoire. His works are regularly performed by nationally recognized wind and
percussion ensembles around the country as well as nationally known artists such as
Canadian Brass.
Dr. Gillingham is a Professor of Music at Central Michigan University and the recipient of an
Excellence in Teaching Award in 1990. He is a member of ASCAP and has been receiving
the ASCAP Standard Award for Composers of Concert Music since 1996.
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872 –1958) was an English composer whose works include
operas, ballets, chamber music, secular and religious vocal pieces and orchestral
compositions. His music marked a decisive break in British music from its Germandominated style of the 19th century. Vaughan Williams sought to be of service to his fellow
4
citizens, believed in making music as available as possible to everybody, and as a result
wrote many works for amateur and student performance.
Vaughan Williams is one of Britain’s best-known composers. Two of his most familiar
concert works are Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (1910) and The Lark
Ascending (1914). His vocal works include hymns, folk-song arrangements and large-scale
choral pieces.
The First World War, in which he served in the army, had a lasting emotional effect. He
went on composing through his seventies and eighties, producing his last symphony
months before his death at the age of eighty-five. His works have continued to be a staple of
the British concert repertoire, and all his major compositions have been recorded.
Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis was originally written for a three part stringed
orchestra: a full-sized orchestra, a chamber orchestra which acts as an echo to the first
ensemble, and a string quartet. Thomas Tallis, who wrote the original modal theme in
1567, composed it to be used as a hymn. Listen for the improvisation on that theme which
takes place in various voices and is why it is called “a fantasia.” It will be interesting to hear
how it has been adapted for percussion instruments.
Tom Gauger
Celebration
Tom Gauger was born in Wheaton, Illinois, and studied percussion at the University of
Illinois, getting a degree in applied music. During that time he played with Harry Partch, an
experimental composer who created his own instruments and wrote in a 43 tone octave.
Tom played with the Boston Symphony for many years, making 300 - 500 recordings and
music for television shows with both the symphony and the Boston Pops. He has recorded
background music for several movies including the Temple of Doom, Schindler's List, and
Saving Private Ryan. From 1965 until 1997 he was also on the faculty at Boston University
and the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. In addition to his business of
manufacturing drum sticks and accessories for percussion, he composes and publishes his
own music for percussion.
Joe Loco
Yumbambé
Joe Loco (1921-1988) was a Latin jazz and pop pianist of Puerto Rican ancestry. A
composer of numerous hit recordings, a quality music orchestrator and a top contender for
the title of "most melodic pianist," Joe Loco started performing with Montecino's Happy
Boys in 1938. He was Machito's pianist before being drafted into the US Air Force in
5
November, 1945. After his discharge in 1947, he free lanced with Latin music's top bands,
which included Polito Galindez, Marcelino Guerra, Pupi Campo, and Julio Andino before
striking gold with his monstrous hit recording of "Tenderly" in 1952. His Latinized
arrangements of American pop standard tunes enabled Loco's Quintet to perform at jazz
clubs and other popular spots which had never featured Latin music before. Yumbambé is
Latin jazz with Afro-Cuban drumming.
Phil Hawkins
Cha Cha Sandwich
Marcena
Phil Hawkins is an accomplished jazz drummer and one of the leading innovators of music
for the steelpan. As a percussionist and drummer he regularly travels throughout the
United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and South America to perform concerts, teach clinics
and study percussion. In 1998, Phil moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where he quickly
gained a reputation as a versatile drummer. Phil currently plays with Latin Jazz legend Pete
Escovedo, The Ray Obiedo Group and Mistura Fina.
Phil has produced two of his own recordings including “H2O,” (2005) and "Sugarcane
Suite" (2010). He is a member of the music faculty at Mission College in Santa Clara where
he currently teaches World Music, MIDI and Digital Audio courses and serves as the
Department Chair. In 1993 he started his own publishing company, P. Note Music, to
promote his original music.
Shelly Irvine
Samba El Gato
Shelly Irvine is a composer and directs a community steel drum band with players
of all ages in Ohio, called the Steeltones.
Jeff Borckardt
Pan Flamenco
Jeff Borckardt is a composer of contemporary jazz and pan music.
Jim Riley
Legend
Jim Riley is the drummer and bandleader for multi-platinum group, Rascal Flatts. Since
moving to Nashville in 1997, Jim he has played over a thousand sold out shows for millions
of fans. His television credits include The Grammy Awards, The Tonight Show, The
American Music Awards, The Voice, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Oprah, and The
Today Show. Jim’s recording credits include Rascal Flatts 2014 release “Rewind,” as well as
a multi-platinum disc, “Me and My Gang”, and movie soundtracks.
Jim was voted “Best Country Drummer” by the readers of Modern Drummer Magazine as
well as winning “Best Drum Clinician” in 2009. In May of 2014 Jim was featured on the
cover of Modern Drummer magazine.
6
Jim attended University of North Texas where he received his degree in Music Education. In
addition to being one of Nashville’s elite touring drummers, Jim has become internationally
recognized as a clinician and educator.
Fishbone
Servitude
Fishbone is an American rock band formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California, which plays
a fusion of ska (a precursor of reggae), punk rock, funk, hard rock and soul. Critics have
noted of the band, "Fishbone was one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock
bands of the late '80s. With their hyperactive, self-conscious diversity, goofy sense of
humor, and sharp social commentary, the group gained a sizable cult following during the
late '80s, yet they were never able to earn a mainstream audience."
7
Percussion Instruments
The percussion and the bass…function as a central heating system.
---Igor Stravinsky
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck, shaken
or scraped. The percussion family of instruments is believed to be the oldest category of
musical instruments, following the human voice.
8
The group of percussion instruments is an enormous family—far greater than any other
group of instruments. They range from the most complicated, such as the Vibraphone, to
the simplest, such as wooden sticks. They are made of metal, wood, membranes of several
kinds (which are stretched over drums as drumheads), to many other materials or
combination of materials.
The Role of Percussion in Various Styles of Music-Classical Music
Orchestral music generally places emphasis on the strings, woodwinds, and brass. When a
pair of timpani is included, they rarely play continuously to keep “the beat,” but usually
serve to provide additional color and accents. In the Romantic period other percussion
instruments (like the triangle or cymbals) were added, but again were generally used
sparingly and for special effect. Contemporary classical music, however, has stretched the
boundaries of the category of percussion instruments; they often call for more
percussion—and of all kinds. In fact, beyond the use of rare ethnic instruments and such
items as a cowbell or a rain stick, such non-musical items as paper bags, clay pots, brooms
or garbage cans are at times called for use in compositions to provide unusual tone colors.
Therefore, in music, percussion instruments may do more than outline the rhythm or the
beat, but also provide timbre. Timbre [pronounced tám-buhr] is the quality or distinctive
tone color that an instrument produces. It is independent of pitch or loudness, and helps to
identify and distinguish it from other instruments. While you listen to the various
instrumental sounds in the percussion ensemble concert, be aware of the different sounds
produced by a full size xylophone in contrast to a bass drum or timbales and know that you
have recognized timbre.
Band Music
In most music, percussion plays a pivotal role; in marching bands, percussion is key. The
bass drum beat keeps the band members in step and at a regular speed, and the snare
drum provides the crisp, decisive air so important in the marching band style. Percussion
in jazz and other popular music ensembles is commonly referred to as "the heartbeat" of a
musical ensemble, often working in close collaboration with the pianist, bassist, drummer
and sometimes the guitarist. They are referred to as the rhythm section. Popular music
depends heavily on the percussive beat keeping the tune in time.
9
The Classification of Percussion Instruments-Percussion Instruments are classified depending on what they are made of, ethnic origin
and the way they are played.
Percussion instruments whose sounds are produced by the vibration of a stretched
membrane are called Membranophones. Drums fall into this category. Some have two
heads, or membranes, stretched over each rim, such as the bass drum and the snare drums.
Some are tuned, such as the timpani. Some are played with hands, rather than mallets, such
as the bongo, Conga drum and the tambourine.
Percussion instruments that produce sound by its entire body being set in motion, such as
cymbals, bells, triangles, or wood blocks are called Idiophones.
Percussion instruments which are comprised of bars or keys are called Keyboards. They
do not have a keyboard in the strictest sense, but follow the layout of a keyboard and are
arranged in a series of whole and half steps, as with a piano keyboard. The xylophone,
marimba and glockenspiel are all a part of this category.
Percussion instruments are also commonly divided into two classes: Un-Pitched
instruments, which produce sounds without an identifiable pitch, and Pitched
percussion instruments, which produce notes with an identifiable pitch, such as the
keyboard instruments. In other words, one could sing along with the pitched instruments.
The pitched percussion instruments may provide not only rhythm but melody and harmony.
Common Un-Pitched Instruments found in bands and orchestras today are Bass drum, Snare
drum, Cymbals, Castanets, Tambourine, Tom-tom, Guiro and the Triangle.
10
Common Pitched Instruments in the percussion family are comprised mostly of instruments with
bars or keyboards, such as the Marimba, Glockenspiel and Xylophone
However, some pitched instruments do not have a keyboard, such as timpani and steel drums.
Timpani or kettle drums are made of copper with a drumhead made of animal skin stretched over
the top. To tune the instrument, the skin is tightened or loosened by turning screws. The pedal will
also lower or raise the pitch. They are played with special timpani mallets.
11
Steel drums or steel pan originated in Trinidad and Tobago and became popular in the
early 1900s. They were made from 55-gallon steel drums which originally held oil or other
liquids. One end of the drum is stretched into a bowl shape, and then molded and tuned for
various pitches; the larger the oval on the surface of the bowl, the lower the note. They are
struck by special sticks tipped with rubber ends.
The bowl of a steel drum, showing the various pitches
And finally, percussion instruments can be categorized by the region of the world from
which they came. Many percussion instruments come from Latin and South America. In
fact it would be difficult to perform much of the Latin American music that is so popular
today without the maracas, bongo drums or conga drums.
12
Dr. Brian West is the Coordinator of Percussion at Texas Christian University. At TCU he
has developed a program that is recognized for excellence in percussion education and
performance. Under his direction, the TCU Percussion Ensemble was selected to perform a
Showcase Concert at the 2015 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC).
Dr. West has also developed a successful steel band program with performances at the 2005
TMEA Convention and many local venues. The marching percussion programs at TCU
(Marching Band Drumline, Indoor Drumline, and summer camps) have thrived under his
direction. In 2006 the TCU Indoor Drumline placed first at the PAS Marching Percussion
Festival.
13
Bibliography
www.ClassicsforKids.com/music/instruments.list Sound sample for each instrument
www.philharmonia.co.uk/explore/instruments/percussion
www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/lessons/grade3-4/Percussion_Instruments_
www.artsalive.ca/en/mus.instrumentlab/percussions.html Sound examples
www.wikipedia Sites for all percussion instruments, as well as composers and arrangers.
www.mostlymarimba.com
Baines, Anthony, ed. The Oxford Companion to Musical Instruments.
New York: Oxford University Press, 1992.
Hart, Mickey. Planet Drum; A Celebration of Percussion and Rhythm.
New York: Harper Collins, 1991.
Randel, Don Michael, ed. The New Harvard Dictionary of Music.
Cambridge, Massachusetts: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1996.
14
Angels in the Wings support the Children’s Education Program of Performing Arts Forth Worth at Bass Performance Hall with
gifts of $1,000 and above. The Children’s Education Program is an integral part of Bass Performance Hall but maintains its
own support independent of Performing Arts Fort Worth. Each year, more than 70,000 students from Fort Worth ISD and North
Texas experience superior quality performing arts programming at Bass Hall that is curriculum-related and free of charge
because of the generosity of our Angels in the Wings.
Visit us at http://www.basshall.com/childrens-education-program/the-program/ or call (817) 212-4311 for more information.
Endowment Fund for the Children’s Education Program
Judy & Paul Andrews
Anne T. & Robert M. Bass
Edward Perry Bass Foundation
Nancy Lee Bass Memorial Fund
Estate of Louise Hutcheson Terry Canafax
Cornelia C. & Bayard H. Friedman
Barney Lipscomb
Rozanne & Billy Rosenthal
Schollmaier Foundation
Southwestern Exposition and Livestock Show
Sponsors for the Children’s Education Program
The Kathleen Connors Trust, PlainsCapital Bank, Trustee
The Kleinheinz Family Foundation for the Arts and Education
Leo Potishman Foundation
Red Oak Foundation
Sid W. Richardson Foundation
The Walton Family Foundation
Amon G. Carter Foundation
Cami & John C. Goff
The Lowe Foundation
Anne & John Marion
Steffen E. Palko
Ann L. & Carol Green Rhodes Charitable Trust,
Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
Anonymous
Arts Council of Fort Worth
BNSF Railway Foundation
City of Fort Worth
Virginia Clay Dorman
Garvey Texas Foundation
GM Financial
Priscilla & Joe Martin
Mary Potishman Lard Trust
Matthew & Lisa Rose Foundation
Schollmaier Foundation
Sodexo
Sundance Square
Texas Commission on the Arts
T.J. Brown & C.A. Lupton Foundation
Web Maddox Trust
Elaine & Neils Agather
American Airlines
Community Foundation of North Texas
J.W. Pepper & Son., Inc.
Dione Kennedy & Daniel Hagwood
North Texas Giving Day Fund of Communities Foundation
of Texas
Once Upon a Time …
The Roach Foundation
Julie & Joel Sawyer
Thomas M., Helen McKee & John P. Ryan Foundation
Sponsors for the Children’s Education Program (cont.)
Wells Fargo
Whataburger
William E. Scott Foundation
The Worthington Renaissance Hotel
The Bass Charitable Corporation
Ben E. Keith Foods
Toni & Bill Boecker
Central Market H-E-B
Juana-Rosa & Ron Daniell
Kim & Glenn Darden
Everman ISD
Mollie & Garland Lasater Charitable Fund of the
Community Foundation of North Texas
Mr. & Mrs. Harry Spring
Jean & Bill Tucker
Elena & Tom Yorio
A M Pate Jr Charitable Trust, Bank of America, N.A.,
Trustee
George Ann & Bill Bahan
Jil & Brad Barnes
Ed Bass
Bayard & Cornelia Friedman Fund
Ruth & Bobb Beauchamp
Marilyn & Mike Berry
Marjorie Black
Judy & Martin Bowen
Sue & Alan Buratto
Debbie & Brent Burns
Lucy J. Darden
Andrew & Kathy DuBose
The Michael Dunleavy, Jr. Family
Dirk E. Eshleman
Fash Foundation
Fifth Avenue Foundation
Linda & Mike Groomer
Teresa & Luther King
Marie & Bob Lansford
Luther King Capital Management
Letha Grace McCoy
Pati & Bill Meadows
Molyneaux Charitable Foundation
Lynn & Nat O’Day
William Oglesby
Olive Pelich
Mrs. Cecil Ray, Jr.
Andrew & Lane Rhodes
River Oaks Rebekah Lodge No. 467
Patricia H. Schutts
Susie Schlegel
Dee & Linda Steer
Sara & Peter Sterling
Charlene Watson
Jeff & Rinda Wentworth
Debra & John Willard