The New American Timpani is a project to fund the composition, recording, and performance of three new works featuring timpani. These new works, composed by me, will be recorded and performed by percussionists of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University and Lyric Opera Principal Timpanist, Ed Harrison. As a percussionist myself, as well as a composer, I am excited to work on this project and add to America’s percussion repertoire.
Three Pieces for Five Timpani
Review of Three Pieces for Five Timpani in Percussive Arts Society magazine Percussive Notes.
Concerto for Timpani
Live Together, Die Alone
Timpani are the big drums found at the back of an orchestra.
My project, The New American Timpani, will include a series of new compositions that will grow the American repertoire for timpani. These works will be written for the percussionists of the Chicago College of Performing Arts. The pieces will include a timpani solo, a quartet with timpani included, and a concerto for timpani. The concerto is being composed for Lyric Opera of Chicago timpanist and Chicago College of Performing Arts percussion department director, Ed Harrison. After the works have been composed, they will be premiered in the annual Chicago College of Performing Arts Percussion Concert in the spring of 2016. In addition to the live premiere of these works, a CD recording will be made.
These drums are tuned and give off a defined pitch, as opposed to un-pitched drums like snare drum and bass drum. The timpani have a long history, starting in the 17th century. These drums grew in popularity, becoming standardized by Mozart, Beethoven, and Berlioz. In the 1950’s Timpani reached a new level with the composition Eight Pieces for Four Timpani by Elliott Carter. Carter’s work completely redefined what composers thought the timpani could do. He turned the timpani into a soloist instrument and his work has now become a standard for percussionists. The title, The New American Timpani, is a sort of ode to the achievement of Elliott Carter’s work. I want to continue along the path that he paved and add to the repertoire for timpani.
For me, this project is a “dream come true.” This is an exciting opportunity to compose new works for percussionists. As a young composer I am working hard to find opportunities to compose new works and attain performances. This project will fund new compositions, plus the performance and recordings, which are the best ways that my music can be promoted and will provide me with an important opportunity to develop as a composer. As a percussionist myself and an alumnus of the Chicago College of Performing Arts, I’m excited to once again work with the department. I spent four years at the Chicago College of Performing Arts studying with Ed Harrison. As an alumnus of the CCPA Percussion Program, I am honored to be returning in this new capacity. I learned so much during my time at CCPA. Working with world class teachers was where I learned to be a percussionist, but working with my peers and learning from the upper-classmen is where I learned about being a musician.
The timpani pieces have now been performed multiple times and around the world! Thank you to Roosevelt University Percussion Ensemble and the University of Texas Percussion Ensemble for terrific premiere performances. Stay tuned for future performances.