#2438: Percussion Paintings

Listen to works for percussion ensemble that depict natural phenomena, including meteor showers, animals, and others on this edition of New Sounds. Hear the broadcast premiere of a new work from composer/toy pianist Wendy Mae Chambers. Her “Night of the Shooting Stars,” is a tone poem for 16 percussionists inspired by The Leonids meteor shower of November 2001, and calls for unusual instrumentation, including Jack-in-the Boxes, key chains, conch shells, sleigh bells, slide whistles, and audience participation on siren whistles. Also, the Nexus Percussion Ensemble plays William Cahn’s work “Fauna,” where melodic marimba lines are punctuated by drum kit fills, coupled with rhythmic animal ambience, rainsticks, z well-placed lion’s roar, and the distinctive hoot of quica. Plus, there’s music featuring the first lady of percussion, Evelyn Glennie, and more.

PROGRAM # 2438 Percussion Pictures (First aired on Tues. 7/12/05)

ARTIST(S)	RECORDING	CUT(S)	SOURCE
Nexus	Live, Merkin Hall 11/13/89	William Cahn: Fauna [13:30]	This performance not commercially available, but the piece appears on “Nexus Now”/Nexus CD 10262. Available at www.nexuspercussion.com
Wendy Mae Chambers	Private recording	Night of the Shooting Stars [25:00]	Not yet released, but see www.wendymae.com for info.
Michael Daugherty, Evelyn Glennie	UFO	??? [6:00]	Klavier #11121** www.klavier-records.com*
Dafos (M. Hart et al)	Dafos	Dry Sands of the Desert, excerpt [3:00]	Reference #RR12. R re-released on Rykodisc, #10108 www.rykodisc.com

*, ** - Find the recordings you've heard - go to the New Sounds Recordings Information page