Disqus - Latest Comments for strikingthings

Re: Orchestra musicians file grievance - Hawaii News - Staradvertiser.com

strikingthings — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:05:03 -0000

There may be 40 concerts, but that doesn't include the number of rehearsals that are needed for each performance. Each of these concerts may require up to a week of rehearsals.

Re: Percussion Pieces Every Composer Should Know

strikingthings — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 17:06:25 -0000

Martinu: Quartet for Clarinet, Horn, Snare Drum, and Cello.

Re: Percussion Axiom TV

strikingthings — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:25:45 -0000

For me, all my articulation lessons came via timpani with stroke speed and fulcrum pressure. Timpani is the instrument with the most obvious ability to ring and so it seems like the best laboratory to explore articulation and length awareness. One of the plusses of a Stevens hand position, for me is it's similarity to my timpani hand position.

As to playing Bach violin works, I will never sound like a violin. I have Henryk Szerying and Milstein to listen to for that, so I don't sweat it. I play a keyboard instrument. I'm going to try to emulate a more keyboard approach even if I'm playing a "violin" work. I see percussionists ask violinists for coaching on Bach, and a lot of violinists I know think it's ridiculous. I think that more could be gleaned from someone who plays a lot of Bach on the harpsichord, especially since they have to deal with similar restrictions in sound production.

Re: Percussion Axiom TV

strikingthings — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:04:01 -0000

Favorite Japanese pieces...

Miki's "Time" (love it's logic) and "Marimba Spiritual"
Yuyama "Divertimento"
Ichiyanagi's "Paganini Personal"

I usually have students learn the Mayuzumi "Concertino for Xylophone" which I think is a great piece of music, although it seems to get a short shrift since it's not a difficult marimba solo.

Of the Abe compositions, I would say "Dream of the Cherry Blossoms."

I'm curious about the Yoshioka pieces. I like the Glennie recording of the "Rhapsody."

I think it's interesting that my preferences run towards more tonally oriented pieces that aren't just solo.

Re: Percussion Axiom TV

strikingthings — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:06 -0000

Excerpts are about getting jobs in orchestras. Outside of the military, there isn't a demonstrated need to prepare auditions for 'professional' wind bands, because they really don't exist outside of a military context. Most of the music you play in a wind ensemble will only ever be played in an academic setting. The standard orchestral excerpts demonstrate that you have familiarity with the core repertoire that you will typically see outside of school. I have played a lot of summer band concerts and the parts to "Stars and Stripes" is way more common (and asked for on some orchestra auditions) versus some piece by Maslanka (which I've never played.) I have played the Safranek band transcription of the last movement of Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony, and Dvorak's New World Symphony more than any piece by Corligiano.

To answer the question of the episode, the two excerpts that I have to be ready to play on a moment's notice in Cleveland Pops are "Porgy and Bess" and "Pops Hoe-Down."

Re: Percussion Axiom TV

strikingthings — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:16:52 -0000

My excitement? "Young Frankenstein" next week and "Wicked" returning next month. I'm also excited about having more general practice time instead of having to focus on practicing something specific for impending performance.