A percussion ensemble is a musical ensemble consisting of only percussion instruments. Although the term can be used to describe any such group, it commonly refers to groups of classically trained percussionists performing primarily classical music. In America, percussion ensembles are most commonly found at conservatories, though some professional groups, such as Nexus and So Percussion exist. Drumlines and groups who regularly meet for drum circles are two other forms of the percussion ensemble.
George Antheil's Ballet Mécanique (1923) is one of the earliest examples of composition for percussion, written originally as a film score and exemplifying the ideals of the Italian futurist movement. Antheil originally called for sixteen synchronized player pianos, as well as airplane engines, alongside more traditional percussion instruments. Another early example, Cuban composer Amadeo Roldán's Rítmicas nos. 5 and 6 of 1930, made use of Cuban percussion instruments and rhythms. But it was Edgard Varèse's Ionisation that "opened the floodgates"[1] and truly brought the percussion ensemble into the fold of contemporary composition. Premiered in 1933 under the baton of Nicholas Slonimsky, Ionisation is thematically structured and makes use of 13 performers playing over 30 different instruments, including Latin percussion instruments, drums, cymbals, sirens, a piano, chimes and glockenspiel.
Other noteworthy pieces were composed during the 1930s and 1940s, particularly on the West Coast of America by composers Henry Cowell, John Cage, Lou Harrison, and Johanna Beyer. The year 1939 saw the composition of Cage's First Construction (in Metal) and Harrison's Canticle no. 1. Béla Bartók's Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion, written in 1937, was also an important piece for the development of percussion composition. The early 1940s resulted in Cage's second (1940) and third (1941) Constructions, Harrison's Fugue for Percussion (1941), as well as Cage and Harrison's collaboration Double Music (1941). Carlos Chávez's Toccata (1942) has also remained a standard work.
After the Second World War
In the post-war period, many new works were composed for percussion ensemble. In 1960, Alberto Ginastera composed the Cantata para América Mágica, for soprano and large percussion ensemble. Carlos Chávez wrote his second such piece, Tambuco, in 1964. Iannis Xenakis composed two percussion sextets for Les Percussions de Strasbourg, Persephassa (1969), and Pléïades (1979), and in 1996 wrote Zythos, for trombone and six percussionists, for Christian Lindberg and the Kroumata Ensemble. Karlheinz Stockhausen composed a children's theatre piece for percussion sextet titled Musik im Bauch (Music in the Belly) in 1975, also for Les Percussions de Strasbourg, and in 2004 wrote a percussion trio titled Mittwoch Formel. The British composer and percussionist James Wood has contributed several works to the repertoire, including Stoicheia (1987–88), requiring over 600 instruments played by 16 percussionists, as well as electronics, Village Burial with Fire for percussion quartet (1989), and Spirit Festival with Lamentations, for quarter-tone marimba and four percussionists (1992).
Accreditation
The existence of percussion ensembles in music schools across the United States and beyond is due largely to Paul Price, who taught at the University of Illinois from 1949 to 1956 and established the first accredited percussion ensemble during his time there.[2] His students at that time included Michael Colgrass, who, unsatisfied with the available percussion ensemble literature, composed for the ensemble and went on to become a Pulitzer-winning composer with Déjà Vu (1978), written for a percussion quartet with orchestra. Since the 1950s, the percussion ensemble has become a permanent part of the academic music world, and professional percussion ensembles such as Nexus have furthered the art form through commissions and worldwide performance. The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music holds the Paul Price Percussion Music and Papers, 1961–1982,[3] which consists of percussion sheet music, sound recordings, and correspondence documenting Price's career as a percussion musician, and conductor of the Manhattan Percussion Ensemble.
^Steven Schick, The Percussionist's Art: Same Bed, Different Dreams (Rochester: University of Rochester Press, 2006), 56.
^Gordon Peters, The Drummer: Man (Wilmette, IL: Kempers-Peters Press, 1975), 211.
^"Paul Price Percussion Music and Papers, 1961-1982 | the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music".
External links
Art of the States: percussion ensemble works for percussion ensemble by American composers
Very early percussion ensemble recordings by John Cage and Lou Harrison – list of the works
March 08, 2023
percussion, ensemble, percussion, ensemble, musical, ensemble, consisting, only, percussion, instruments, although, term, used, describe, such, group, commonly, refers, groups, classically, trained, percussionists, performing, primarily, classical, music, amer. A percussion ensemble is a musical ensemble consisting of only percussion instruments Although the term can be used to describe any such group it commonly refers to groups of classically trained percussionists performing primarily classical music In America percussion ensembles are most commonly found at conservatories though some professional groups such as Nexus and So Percussion exist Drumlines and groups who regularly meet for drum circles are two other forms of the percussion ensemble Percussion orchestra Percujove in concert Gocoo in concert Taiwanese drum ensemble A Thayambaka Chenda ensemble A Carnatic ensemble playing in Cleveland Contents 1 Early literature 2 After the Second World War 2 1 Accreditation 2 2 Other significant composers 3 List of notable percussion ensembles 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly literature EditGeorge Antheil s Ballet Mecanique 1923 is one of the earliest examples of composition for percussion written originally as a film score and exemplifying the ideals of the Italian futurist movement Antheil originally called for sixteen synchronized player pianos as well as airplane engines alongside more traditional percussion instruments Another early example Cuban composer Amadeo Roldan s Ritmicas nos 5 and 6 of 1930 made use of Cuban percussion instruments and rhythms But it was Edgard Varese s Ionisation that opened the floodgates 1 and truly brought the percussion ensemble into the fold of contemporary composition Premiered in 1933 under the baton of Nicholas Slonimsky Ionisation is thematically structured and makes use of 13 performers playing over 30 different instruments including Latin percussion instruments drums cymbals sirens a piano chimes and glockenspiel Other noteworthy pieces were composed during the 1930s and 1940s particularly on the West Coast of America by composers Henry Cowell John Cage Lou Harrison and Johanna Beyer The year 1939 saw the composition of Cage s First Construction in Metal and Harrison s Canticle no 1 Bela Bartok s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion written in 1937 was also an important piece for the development of percussion composition The early 1940s resulted in Cage s second 1940 and third 1941 Constructions Harrison s Fugue for Percussion 1941 as well as Cage and Harrison s collaboration Double Music 1941 Carlos Chavez s Toccata 1942 has also remained a standard work After the Second World War EditIn the post war period many new works were composed for percussion ensemble In 1960 Alberto Ginastera composed the Cantata para America Magica for soprano and large percussion ensemble Carlos Chavez wrote his second such piece Tambuco in 1964 Iannis Xenakis composed two percussion sextets for Les Percussions de Strasbourg Persephassa 1969 and Pleiades 1979 and in 1996 wrote Zythos for trombone and six percussionists for Christian Lindberg and the Kroumata Ensemble Karlheinz Stockhausen composed a children s theatre piece for percussion sextet titled Musik im Bauch Music in the Belly in 1975 also for Les Percussions de Strasbourg and in 2004 wrote a percussion trio titled Mittwoch Formel The British composer and percussionist James Wood has contributed several works to the repertoire including Stoicheia 1987 88 requiring over 600 instruments played by 16 percussionists as well as electronics Village Burial with Fire for percussion quartet 1989 and Spirit Festival with Lamentations for quarter tone marimba and four percussionists 1992 Accreditation Edit The existence of percussion ensembles in music schools across the United States and beyond is due largely to Paul Price who taught at the University of Illinois from 1949 to 1956 and established the first accredited percussion ensemble during his time there 2 His students at that time included Michael Colgrass who unsatisfied with the available percussion ensemble literature composed for the ensemble and went on to become a Pulitzer winning composer with Deja Vu 1978 written for a percussion quartet with orchestra Since the 1950s the percussion ensemble has become a permanent part of the academic music world and professional percussion ensembles such as Nexus have furthered the art form through commissions and worldwide performance The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music holds the Paul Price Percussion Music and Papers 1961 1982 3 which consists of percussion sheet music sound recordings and correspondence documenting Price s career as a percussion musician and conductor of the Manhattan Percussion Ensemble Other significant composers Edit In addition to Beyer Cage Cowell and Harrison American composers who have made significant contributions to percussion ensemble literature include Steve Reich Howard J Buss Christopher Rouse William Russell William Kraft and Eric Ewazen List of notable percussion ensembles EditAmadinda Percussion Group Blue Man Group Kroumata Nexus The Percussion Clique Michael Aldan Bayard Les Percussions de Strasbourg Scrap Arts Music Singapore Wind Symphony s Percussion Ensemble So Percussion Stomp Tambuco Third Coast PercussionSee also EditGamelan Indoor percussion ensemble Noise in music ote a Pungmul Rhythm band Samul nori Taiko ThayambakaReferences Edit Steven Schick The Percussionist s Art Same Bed Different Dreams Rochester University of Rochester Press 2006 56 Gordon Peters The Drummer Man Wilmette IL Kempers Peters Press 1975 211 Paul Price Percussion Music and Papers 1961 1982 the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music External links EditArt of the States percussion ensemble works for percussion ensemble by American composers Very early percussion ensemble recordings by John Cage and Lou Harrison list of the works Dave Sabine s Percussion Sheet Music Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Percussion ensemble amp oldid 1120113099, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
