Mitchell Peters

Mitchell Peters (born 1935)[1] is former principaltimpanist and percussionist with the Los Angeles Philhar-monic Orchestra. He has composed well-known piecesfor the marimba such as Yellow After the Rain and SeaRefractions; it is said that these works were composed be-cause Peters felt that there was a lack of musically inter-esting material that would introduce his students to four-mallet marimba techniques. Several of his snare drumand timpani etude books are in common use as well. Hebegan his career in the army orchestra. He later was prin-cipal percussionist of Dallas Symphony before taking theprincipal percussion position in the Los Angeles Philhar-monic in 1969. When principal timpanist William Kraftretired in 1981 to pursue his career as a composer, Pe-ters stepped up to assume the role as timpanist, a posi-tion he occupied through the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s2005/2006 season. Peters is well known for his prodi-gious sightreading ability.Peters became the applied percussion teacher atCalifornia State University Los Angeles shortly afterjoing the LA Philharmonic. During his tenure as tim-panist, he took the position as Professor of Percussion atthe University of California, Los Angeles. In May 2012,Peters retired from teaching at UCLA.[2]

He is also a member of the Philharmonic New MusicGroup and has recorded a wide array of contemporaryworks as a chamber musician. Mr. Peters holds the Per-former’s Certificate and bachelor’s and master’s degreesfrom the Eastman School of Music, where he studiedwith William Street. While at Eastman, he was a mem-ber of the original “Marimba Masters.” Upon gradua-tion, he served as timpanist with the 7th U.S. Army Sym-phony Orchestra. As a widely published author and com-poser, Mr. Peter’s works and instructional materials arehighly regarded throughout the United States and abroad.He currently owns and operates a music publishing com-pany that handles percussion works exclusively. His fac-ulty positions include the Music Academy of the West inSanta Barbara, and UCLA, where he teaches percussionand conducts the percussion ensemble.[3] In 2006 he wasawarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the SabianCymbal Company. He was also on the faculty of the Mu-sic Academy of the West in Santa Barbara from 1990-2002.[4] Mitchell Peters is the cousin of American con-ductor, composer and jazz singer James Touchi-Peters.

1 Compositions by Mitchell Peters• Lady of Spain (by Tolchard Evans), xylophone, 5marimbas, double bass and bells (arr. ; MitchellPeters,195-?)

• March of the Eagles, 5 percussionists (pub. 1967)

• A la nañigo, percussion ensemble (5 players) (pub.1967)

• Etude #I, 4 tom-toms (1 player) (pub. 1967) [Grade3]

• Study in 5/8, percussion quartet (pub. 1967) [Grade3]

• Odd Meter Rudimental Etudes, snare drum, educa-tional work (pub. 1967)

• Stick Control for the Drum Set, Volume 1: BasicTriplet Patterns, educational work (pub. 1967)

• Etude #II, (1 player) (pub. 1968) [Grade 3]

• Introduction and Waltz, (1 player) (pub. 1968)[Grade 2]

• Rondo, tom-tom solo (4 tom-toms) (1 player) (pub.1968) [Grade 3]

• Scherzo for Three Timpani (1 player) (pub. 1968)[Grade 3]

• Sonata-Allegro, marimba and piano (pub. 1968)[Grade 3+]

• Developing Dexterity for Snare Drum, educationalwork (pub. 1968)

• Drum Music to March By, educational work (pub.1968)

• A la samba, 6 percussionists (pub. 1969) [Grade 3+]

• Piece for Percussion (4 players)(pub 1969)

• Stick Control for the Drum Set, Volume 2: BasicSixteenth Patterns, educational work (pub. 1969)

• Rondino, 4 timpani (1 player) (pub. 1970) [Grade3]

• Chant, marimba (2 mallets) (pub. 1971) [Grade 3]

• Passacaglia and Trio, multiple percussion solo (1player) (pub. 1971) [Grade 3]

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2 2 REFERENCES

• Perpetual Motion, snare drum and 4 tom-toms (1player) (pub. 1971) [Grade 3]

• Sea Refractions, marimba (4 mallets) (pub. 1971)[Grade 3]

• Theme and Variations, marimba (2-4 mallets) andpiano (pub. c. 1971) [Grade 4]

• Tribal Serenade, 4 timpani (1 player) (pub. 1971)[Grade 3]

• Yellow After the Rain, marimba (4 mallets) (pub.1971) [Grade 4+]

• Advanced Snare Drum Studies, educational work(pub. 1971)

• Primal Mood, 4 timpani (1 player) (pub. 1972)[Grade 3]

• Rondo for Solo Trombone (pub. 1972)

• Zen Wanderer, marimba (4 mallets) (pub. 1972)[Grade 3]

• OddMeter Calisthenics for the Snare Drummer, ed-ucational work (pub. 1973)

• The Storm (Silence is Golden), 4 timpani (1 player)(pub. 1975) [Grade 4]

• Teardrops, marimba (4 mallets) (pub. 1975) [Grade3]

• Undercurrent, marimba (4 mallets) (pub. 1975)[Grade 3]

• Waves, marimba (4 mallets) (pub. 1975) [Grade 3]

• Intermediate Snare Drum Studies (43 studies), edu-cational work (pub. 1976)

• Three Pieces for ThreeMallets, marimba (3mallets)(pub. 1978) [Grade 3]

• Intermediate Timpani Studies, educational work(pub. 1981)

• Hard Times: 20 advanced etudes for snare drum,educational work (pub. 1984)

• Elementary Snare Drum Studies, educational work(pub. 1988)

• Sabre Dance (Khachaturian, from Gayne ballet),(arr. & pub. 198-?)

• Rudimental Primer for the Snare Drummer, educa-tional work (pub. 1990)

• Fundamental Method for Timpani, educationalwork (pub. by Alfred, 1993)

• Fundamental Method for Mallets, educational work(pub. by Alfred, 1995)

• Fundamental Method for Mallets, Book 2, educa-tional work (pub. by Alfred, 1996)

• Fundamental Solos for Timpani: 15 intermediate-level solos for the developing timpanist, educationalwork (pub. by Alfred, 1997)

• Dog Beach, marimba (4 mallets) (pub. 1999)[Grade 3]

• Galactica, marimba (2 mallet) (pub. 1999) [Grade3+]

• Pastiche, marimba (4 mallets) (pub. 1999) [Grade3]

• Starscape, marimba (4 mallets) (pub. 1999) [Grade3]

• Fundamental Solos for Mallets, educational work(1999)

• Danse rituelle du feu (Ritual Fire Dance) (Manuelde Falla (arr. & pub. 199-?)

• Barcelona, marimba (4 mallets) (pub. 2000) [Grade3]

• Etudes for Snare Drum, educational work (pub.2003) [Advanced] [5]

2 References[1] http://www.pytheasmusic.org/peters_mitchell.html

[2] Mitchell Peters Bio, ucla.edu, Retrieved August 4, 2011

[3] “Mitchell Peters.” Alfred Music Publishing. Alfred Mu-sic, n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2012. <http://www.alfred.com/Company/Authors/MitchellPeters.aspx>.

[4] “Mitchell Peters (1935- ).” Pytheas Center for Contem-porary Music. Pytheasmusic, n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2012.<http://www.pytheasmusic.org/peters_mitchell.html>.

[5] “Mitchell Peters (1935- ).” Pytheas Center for Contem-porary Music. Pytheasmusic, n.d. Web. 5 Oct. 2012.<http://www.pytheasmusic.org/peters_mitchell.html>.

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