ZMF New Music

The Zeltsman Music Foundation (ZMF) New Music is an initiative led by Nancy Zeltsman to generate 24 intermediate level marimba solos via a Commissioning Project, and Composition Contest. All 24 pieces will be published in two volumes called Intermediate Masterworks for Marimba, and recorded on CD. As of this writing, ZMF New Music needs your assistance and monetary support to make this project a complete success. Yes, times are tough...the economy is rough...but try to spare what you can to ensure future generations of marimba students have a bridge between entry-level music and our masterworks.

Also, make sure to put July 5, 2009 on your calendar. Let's all go to Appleton, WI for the premiere of these new works!

p.s. Have you donated yet? Visit the website, donate, enjoy your good karma!

You Know It's Going to be Rough When...

You know it's going to be a rough concert when your snare drum stand, floor tom head, and snare drum strainer break within the first 10 measures of a swing concert. Luckily I had an extra snare drum and my trusty old Premiere snare drum stand that has served me well throughout the ages!

Louie Bellson, Dead at Age 84

_{Photo credit: Paul Slaughter}

Jazz legend and drumset virtuoso Louie Bellson died on Saturday, February 14, 2009 at the age of 84 years old. Some of my first memories of seeing a live "drum battle" are watching Louie Bellson at the University of Illinois. My father and I watched this several times as it was broadcast on WTTW, the local PBS station in Chicago. I think that concert may have also inspired me to want my own set of rototoms. Mr. Bellson also is credited with pioneering the use of double bass drums.

Best wishes to Mr. Bellson's family and survivors.

Update: Hudson Music has put up a short biography of Louie Bellson on their website.

Pacifica Quartet Wins Best Chamber Music Performance Grammy

Congratulations to the Pacifica Quartet for winning the Best Chamber Music Performance (2008) Grammy Award for their Naxos recording of the Elliott Carter String Quartets Nos. 1 and 5. The Pacifica Quartet is a Resident Performing Artist at the University of Chicago. If you haven't gotten a chance yet, pick up a CD or go see one of their live performances.

Pencil Happy

Last weekend I played the timpani part in Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. I'm guessing that was my fourth time playing the piece, and third playing the timpani part; it's a fun piece, and is arguably one of the best uses of percussion in the orchestra literature. The parts are rental and I don't ever recall seeing a part where every single note played by the timpanist was circled by a previous performer. I'm not kidding. Here's some samples...

<sub>Somewhere in the Mambo section, circling the octave "E's" for clarity?


Near the start of the Rumble. Missing this is like missing a train wreck at 110mph.


Beginning of the Mambo at mm. 404. The markings really "wake up" the player!</sub>


Now I completely understand the need to mark parts, especially when the parts are written in score form and difficult to read (as the Berstein is in some cases). But seriously, think about the performer that has to come along and read the personalized slop that you put on parts....please?

One other bit of advice (thanks to Todd Sheehan of the Evansville Symphony Orchestra): I highly recommend using the MaracaStix by John Tafoya of Indiana University. The sticks sound great, look great, and give you piece of mind that you won't accidentally break a real maraca during performance...you know...by accidentally hitting a lug. Not that I've ever had that happen...

Max Neuhaus, Dead at 69

Max Neuhaus died yesterday (04 Feb).

"Our perception of space depends as much on what we hear
as on what we see." -- Max Neuhaus

Rest in peace.