New Music Series Peter Jarvis, director

featuring

The William Paterson University Percussion Ensemble

including performances of

Six Pieces by WPU Composers

Monday, April 23, 2012, 7:30 PM

Shea Center for Performing Arts

The2011‐2012SeasonoftheNewMusicSeriesisDedicatedtoJohnCageInCelebrationofhisCentennial

Program

MusicforPiecesofWood(1973) SteveReich ForClaves

PatrickLapinsky,SamirEgusquiza,MikeJacquot,

TravisJ.Salim,JoeScalaPeterJarvis‐Coach

LivingRoomMusic(1940) JohnCage ForQuartetofUnspecifiedInstruments

1. ToBegin2. Story3. Melody4. End

SamirEgusquiza,JosephScala,MikeJacquot,PatrickLapinsky

AmandaLi‐PianoGaryVanDyke‐Coach

Fantasy‐Quartet(1987) StevenR.Gerber ForPercussionQuartet

SamirEgusquiza,PatrickLapinsky,

AnthonyFabrizio,DanGraziano,percussionPaytonMacDonald‐Conductor

FirstConstruction(inmetal)(1939) JohnCage ForPercussionEnsemble

SteveSarkissian,PatrickLapinsky,MikeJacquot

JasmineHenry,JosephScalaAnthonyFabrizio–Piano,SamirEgusquiza–PianoAssistant

JohnFerrari–Conductor

intermission

MusicbyWilliamPatersonUniversityComposersSoloforTwoKickDrums(2007) PeterJarvis

MarkHayes

AFantasyforOrchestralandTubularBells(2011)*TravisJ.Salim

PaytonMacDonald‐OrchestralBellsTravisJ.Salim–TubularBells

Bonk(2008)* PaytonMacDonald ForDrumSet

MarkHayesTwoMovementsforVibraphoneTrio(2011)* NicolasDoktor

1. Perception2. Headrush

NicolasDoktor,AnthonyFabrizio,DominickMichele

ComparingDreams(2012)* KevinNorton DuoforOboeandPercussion

SaraDavol–OboePeterJarvis–Percussion

BoneMarrow(2012)* TheoMetz

TheoMetz*=WorldPremiere

ProgramNotes

SteveReich:MusicforPiecesofWoodMusicforPiecesofWoodwaswrittenin1973andisdesignedforfive

players.Itiswrittenforclaves,whicharepercussioninstrumentswithparticularpitches.Therearetwotypesusedinthispiece,theso‐calledstandardandthe"African"claves.Theclave,whichcomesfromCuba(thewordinSpanishmeans"key"),ismadeoftwopiecesofhardwoodthattheplayerbeats.AudiencesmaybemostfamiliarwiththeinstrumentinitsuseintherhumbaandotherLatinAmericandances.TheyhavebeenusedinorchestralworksbyVarèse,Copland9InConnotations,amongotherworks),andBerio.Theclavesinthispiecearedesignedtocreateaparticularpitchdifferentiation.Thecomposerspecifiesthephysicalarrangementoftheplayers.Whilethenotationisprecise,thecomposeraskstheplayerstorepeateachbar"approximately"thenumberoftimesindicated,perhapsgivingtheperformersachancetovarynotonlythecharacterbutthedurationofeachperformance. ‐LeonBotsteinJohnCage:LivingRoomMusic

LivingRoomMusicisamusicalcompositionbyJohnCage,composedin1940.Itisaquartetforunspecifiedinstruments,allofwhichmaybefoundinalivingroomofatypicalhouse,hencethetitle(Pritchett,1993,20).LivingRoomMusicisdedicatedtoCage'sthen‐wifeXenia.Theworkconsistsoffourmovements:"ToBegin","Story","Melody",and"End".Cageinstructstheperformerstouseanyhouseholdobjectsorarchitecturalelementsasinstruments,andgivesexamples:magazines,cardboard,"largishbooks",floor,woodenframeofwindow,etc.Thefirstandthelastmovementsarepercussionmusicforsaidinstruments.Inthesecondmovementtheperformerstransformintoaspeechquartet:themusicconsistsentirelyofpiecesofGertrudeStein'sshortpoem"TheWorldIsRound"(Pritchett,1998)spokenorsung.Thethirdmovementisoptional.Itincludesamelodyplayedbyoneoftheperformerson"anysuitableinstrument."

‐FromWikipediaStevenR.Gerber:Fantasy‐Quartet

Fantasy‐QuartetwaswrittenforRaymondDesRochesandTheNewJerseyPercussionEnsemble.Itismyonlyworkforpercussion,unlessyoucountNexusforviolinandonepercussionplayer,orVariationsforPianoandPercussion(2players),thelatterofwhichIpremieredwithRayDesRochesin1968.

‐StevenR.Gerber

JohnCage:FirstConstruction(inmetal)

Between1939and1941CagewrotethreepieceswiththetitleConstruction.Thefirstoneisforpercussionsextet(withanassistant)theothertwoareforpercussionquartet.ThepremiereoftheFirstConstructioninMetalwasontheDecember9,1939inSeattle,conductedbythecomposer.Thetitleofthispiecepointstothefactthatonlymetalpercussioninstrumentsareusedinthisconstruction.Thoseinstrumentsare:Orchestrabells,Thundersheets,Gongs,Cowbells,Japanesetemplegongs,Brakedrums,Anvils,TurkishandChinesecymbals,Mutedgongs,Watergong,Tam‐tam.Piano(twoplayers)isalsoemployed.

PeterJarvis:SoloforTwoKickDrums

SoloforTwoKickDrums,Op.7wascomposedforandisdedicatedtoConnorDonahue.Connorwaspreparingarecitalwhenaninjurytohisarm,whichledtosurgery,forcedhimtocanceltheprogram.IcomposedthispiecesoConnorcouldcontinueplayingwithoutneedingtoemployhisarms. ‐PeterJarvis TravisJ.Salim:AFantasyforOrchestralandTubularBells

AFantasyforOrchestralandTubularBellsdescribesitself‐aduetforglockenspiel(orchestralbells)andchimes(tubularbells).Beforecomposingthispiece,Inoticedthattherearegoodorchestralexcerptsfortheseinstruments,butthereisnotasignificantamountofsolo/chamberrepertoireforbellsorchimesthatisnotablychallenging.Ithencomposedthispieceinthefallof2011,tryingtokeepthisideainmind.Thispieceistheresult.PaytonMacDonald:Bonk

Abonkisastateofextremeexhaustionmainlycausedbythedepletionofglycogeninthemuscles.Whenanathletebonksheorsheshutsdown,bothphysicallyandmentally.IntheoutersectionsofBonktheperformerisinstructedtoplayasfastaspossibleandholdthatspeeduntilhisorherhandsfatigueandcramp—reachingakindoflocalizedbonk—thenmoveontothenextmeasure.Thus,physicalfatiguedeterminesphraselength,akindofhyperintense“breath”ofthebody.TheinnersectionofBonkpresentscontrastingmaterial,softandflutteryphrasesplayedwithbrushes.Therhythmsofthatsectionwillbefamiliartoconnoisseursofpercussionmusic.BonkisdedicatedtoandwaswrittenformyfriendandcolleaguePeterJarvisandwascommissionedbyHelmutCalabresethroughhispublishingcompanyCalabreseBrothersMusic.

‐PaytonMacDonald

NicolasDoktor:TwoMovementsforVibraphoneTrio

InthepieceTwoMovementsforVibraphoneTrioallthreeplayersexploredifferentmeterswhilealsoremaininglinkedbyasingleconstantidea.Inthefirstmovement,Perception,theconstantistherelentless‘A’,whichallthreeperformersstrikeinunison.Whileremaininglinkedbythe‘A’,eachplayerventuresintoadifferentmeterandthereforeperceivestheresultingcompositemelodydifferently.Thepannedarrangementofthethreevibraphonesalsogiveseachaudiencememberadifferentperceptionofthemelodydependinguponwheretheyareseated.Asthesteadyrhythmofthe‘A’beginstofluctuate,theperformersfindanewconstantbyplayingthepreviouslystaggeredmelodyinunison.Inthesecondmovement,Headrush,thetriosharesaconstantfournotepattern;however,theyallenterindifferentmeters.Astheperformersplaythroughtheirrespectivecyclestheyevolvetogetherharmonically,eventuallycomingfullcirclebeforemovingon.Theplayersthenmodulatemetricallytoanaugmentedandharmonizedversionoftheopeningfournotepattern.Afurtheraugmentedformofthepatternemergesastheconstantinthelowregisterbeforetheplayersdivergefortheclimax.Onebyonetheperformersbeginplayingphrasesofseven,ultimatelycreatinganewcompositephraseofsevenatthepeak.Slowlythepatternsdeteriorateuntiltheconstantsfromboththefirstandsecondmovementsareplayedbyallthreeperformersinunison.

‐NicolasDoktorKevinNorton:ComparingDreams

ComparingDreams(January2012)waswrittenexpresslyforoboistSarahDavolandpercussionistPeterJarviswhoseworkasstate‐of‐the‐artinstrumentalistsI’veenjoyedmanytimesovertheyears.Theyaredeservedlywellrespectedinchambermusicandnewmusiccirclesandhavebeenparticularlyencouragingtomeasacomposerandasanimproviser.Infact,ComparingDreamsisinformedbytheimprovisingI’vedoneinduosettingsoverthepast25‐30years.I’velearnedsomuchfromduoswithmusicianslikeConnieCrothers,JoëlleLéandre,AnthonyBraxton,JohnZorn,FrodeGjerstadandJohnLindberg,amongstothers.ThediscoveriesI’vemadeaboutsound,extremetempochanges,melodicinteractionandthealmostdramaticpersonalinteraction,allcomeintoplayinthistotallynotatedcomposition.Aswithmanyofmycompositions,thetitlescanalwaysbeinterpreteddifferentways.Withoutgoingintoabigdiscussionofdreams–thepiececouldbethoughtofasamorningconversationofthepreviousnight’sdreams:sometimestheoboetakingthelead,sometimesthepercussion:sometimestheinteractionbetweenthetwoinstrumentsisharmoniousatothertimesthere’sanemotionalcounterpoint.However,dreamscanbe“bigger”–likethecollectivedreamsofpeace,justiceandendtopoverty.Theentireplanetiscomparingdreams.Froma“nuts&bolts”perspective,thetemposchangefrequentlyandtheextremesrangesofboththevibraphoneandoboeareutilized.Thebowedvibraphonenotesarenotagimmick,theyarepartofmy

personalimprovisinglanguageasisthesortofstand‐updrumsetconceptofthenon‐pitchedpercussioninstruments.ComparingDreamsispartofaseriesofduocompositionsthatIstartedabout6yearsago.EtronMinor(forviolin&congaorflute&conga),EndlessRain(forviola&piano),ThePilgrimVariations(forclarinet&violin)tomentionafew,allfallintothegreaterchambermusictraditionexceptthattheywerewrittenbyasomeonewhosehasspentalmostthreegenerationsasaperformingimproviser.Thebasicideabehindthesepieceswastobringanorganicflowanduniquesoundstoconcertmusicandconcertmusicianswhoareinspiredbyimprovisedmusic.ThiscompositionistothememoryofMargueriteW.Davol(1928‐2012)prolificwriterofchildren'sbooks.TheoMetz:BoneMarrow

I'verecentlybeenfascinatedwiththerecentMash‐Upmusicgenreandit'spopularityaswellasliveelectronicmanipulation.ForthispieceIwantedtocreateasinglesyntheticsoundfrommultiplenaturalsoundsources.TocreatethisIsampledaudioclipsfrompreviousNewMusicconcertsandmanipulatedtheaudiousingsometraditionalmethodssuchascutting,stretching,reversing,andequalizingaswellassomemoremoderntechniqueslikefrequencymodulationsynthesisandoutboardeffects.OnceIcreatedasoundorphraseIwascontentwithIarrangedthenewaudiointoanewpieceofmusic.Thereareover15piecesfrom2011and2012sampledinthispiecethatwereallperformedandrecordedattheSheaCenter.Unfortunately,Ilosttrackofmostoftheoriginalmusicsampledsotherearenocreditstothecomposersorperformers.Thatbeingsaid,themusicsampledwasusedoutofrespectforthecomposersandthecaliberofmusicperformedintheNewMusicSeries.

TocreatetheliveaspectofthisperformanceIbuilthomemademicrophonesoutofbeeperspeakersandplacedthemonvariousdrumsandcymbalsonthedrumkit.Thesignalfromthesemicrophonesaretriggerednaturallyfrommeplayingthekitandaresentthroughaseriesofoutboardeffectsthatarecontrolledbyme.Thelivemanipulationisintendedtoblendwiththeelectronicplaybacktrackwhilethedrumsetisutilizedtounifyandoutlinethesectionsofthepiece.

BiographicalInformationWilliamPatersonUniversityNewMusicSeries:

2011‐2012marksthe34thseasonofthehighlydistinguishedNewMusicSeriesatWilliamPatersonUniversity.DirectedbyPeterJarvis,theseriesiswidelyknownforinnovativeprogrammingandexcellenceinperformance.ThroughouttheseasontheserieswillincludenewandrecentworksbysomeofAmerica'smostdistinguishedcomposerswithemphasisonthemusicof

composersfromtheWilliamPatersonUniversitycommunity.Eachconcertofthe2011‐2012seasonwillincludeatleastonepiecebyAmericancomposerJohnCageincelebrationofhiscentennial.PerformerswillincludetheWilliamPatersonUniversityPercussionandNewMusicEnsembles,NewJerseyPercussionEnsemble,Jarvis/PritskerDuo,ComposersConcordanceandseveraldistinguishedguestsincludingclarinetistMichiyoSuzuki,JudithBettinaamongseveralothers.JohnCage:

JohnCage(September5,1912–August12,1992)wasanAmericancomposer,philosopher,poet,musictheorist,artist,printmaker,amateurmycologistandmushroomcollector.Apioneerofaleatoricmusic,electronicmusicandnon‐standarduseofmusicalinstruments,Cagewasoneoftheleadingfiguresofthepost‐waravant‐garde.CriticshavelaudedhimasoneofthemostinfluentialAmericancomposersofthe20thcentury.Hewasalsoinstrumentalinthedevelopmentofmoderndance,mostlythroughhisassociationwithchoreographerMerceCunningham,whowasalsoCage'sromanticpartnerformostoftheirlives.

Cageisperhapsbestknownforhis1952composition4�33�,thethreemovementsofwhichareperformedwithoutasinglenotebeingplayed.Thecontentofthecompositionismeanttobeperceivedasthesoundsoftheenvironmentthatthelistenershearwhileitisperformed,ratherthanmerelyasfourminutesand33secondsofsilence,andthepiecebecameoneofthemostcontroversialcompositionsofthe20thcentury.AnotherfamouscreationofCage'sisthepreparedpiano(apianowithitssoundalteredbyplacingvariousobjectsinthestrings),forwhichhewrotenumerousdance‐relatedworksandafewconcertpieces,thebestknownofwhichisSonatasandInterludes(1946–48).

HisteachersincludedHenryCowell(1933)andArnoldSchoenberg(1933–35),bothknownfortheirradicalinnovationsinmusic,butCage'smajorinfluenceslayinvariousEasterncultures.ThroughhisstudiesofIndianphilosophyandZenBuddhisminthelate1940s,Cagecametotheideaofaleatoricorchance‐controlledmusic,whichhestartedcomposingin1951.TheIChing,anancientChineseclassictextonchangingevents,becameCage'sstandardcompositiontoolfortherestofhislife.Ina1957lecture,ExperimentalMusic,hedescribedmusicas"apurposelessplay"whichis"anaffirmationoflife–notanattempttobringorderoutofchaosnortosuggestimprovementsincreation,butsimplyawayofwakinguptotheverylifewe'reliving."

‐fromWikipediaSarahDavol:

SarahDavol,oboe,hasbeenfeaturedasoboesoloistwithVoxAmaDeus,AmorArtis,ConcertRoyal,LosAngelesBaroqueOrchestra,ontourwith

BachanaliainSouthAmerica,withPublickMusickinGermany,andwiththevocalensembleChanticleerinMexico.SheisamemberofTheAmericanClassicalOrchestra,theConnecticutEarlyMusicFestivalOrchestra,GrandTourOrchestra,LaFollia,TexasCamerata,andshehasperformedatTanglewood,MostlyMozart,andRaviniafestivals.RecordingsincludeVivaldi’sOboeConcertosindminorandCMajorwithVoxAmaDeusOrchestraonLyrachordlabel,andcomposerSunbinKim’s“Aphorisms”forsolooboe,whichwonanationalASCAPaward.ShehasalsorecordedoverfiftyearlymusicCD’sonvariouslabels,andyoumayhearMs.DavolontheAudioguideattheMetropolitanMuseumofArtdemonstratingtheoboesoftheMusicalInstrumentCollection.ShewasthesoloshawmandoboistforLaChiusa’sBernardaAlba”atLincolnCenter,andplaysonBroadwayfornumerousproductions.Ascomposer,Ms.Davol’smusicmaybeheardonthesoundtrackofthedocumentaryfilmOurSpiritsDon’tSpeakEnglish:IndianBoardingSchool”andsheistherecipientofawardsfromMeettheComposer.SheisonthefacultyofWilliamPatersonUniversityandSarahLawrenceCollege."outstandingsolowork‐BostonGlobeNicolasDoktor:

NicolasDoktorisaNewJerseybasedpercussionistandmusiceducator.AsamemberofvariousensemblesincludingtheWilliamPatersonUniversityPercussionEnsemble,WilliamPatersonUniversityOrchestra,WilliamPatersonUniversityConcertBand,theNewJerseyIntercollegiateBand,andmanyothergroupshehasperformedatvenuesinandaroundNewYorkCityandNewJersey.Asasoloist,NickhasperformedworksthroughoutNewJersey,includingtheNewJerseyMusicEducatorsAssociationConference.Nickhasalsocomposedanumberofcontemporarypercussionpiecesandelectronicmusicpieces.StevenR.Gerber:

StevenR.Gerberwasbornin1948inWashington,D.C.andnowlivesinNewYorkCity.HereceiveddegreesfromHaverfordCollegeandfromPrincetonUniversity,whichawardedhima4‐yearfellowship.4CDsofGerber'smusichavebeenreleasedonmajorlabelssince2000‐achambermusicCDfeaturingviolinistKurtNikkanenonNaxos'sAmericanMastersseries,andorchestralCDsonChandos,KOCHInternational,andArabesque.GerberhaswrittenconcertosforcellistCarterBrey,violistYuriBashmet,andclarinetistJonManasseamongothers,aswellasworksfortheFineArtsandAmernetStringQuartets.

Gerberrecentlycompletedanorchestralwork,"MusicinDarkTimes,"commissionedbyVladimirAshkenazy.ThefourworldpremiereperformancestookplaceinMarch,2009,withMaestroAshkenazyconductingtheSanFranciscoSymphony.2013willseetheworldpremiereofTwoLyrics

forviolinandstringorchestrabytheNationalPhilharmonicOrchestraatStrathmoreHallinMaryland,withviolinistElenaUrioste.JohnFerrari: JohnFerrariisactiveinclassical,jazz,pop,Broadway,film,televisionanddancemusic,theavant‐garde,andmulti‐media.Heperformsandgivesmasterclassesnationallyandabroad,andappearsondozensofrecordingsaspercussionist,drummerandconductor.HeisafoundingmemberoftheNaumburgAwardwinningNewMillenniumEnsemble,aregularguestartistoftheChamberMusicSocietyofLincolnCenterandChamberMusicNorthwest,andhasbeenamemberofMeridianArtsEnsemblesince1993.Mr.Ferrarihasalsoappearedand/orrecordedwithmanyothernotableorganizationssuchas:BangOnACanAllStars,DaCapoChamberPlayers,ManhattanSymphonietta,PerspectivesEnsemble,TheGroupforContemporaryMusic,OrpheusChamberPlayers,RiversideSymphony,Locrian,Cygnus,PittsburgCollective,andmanyothers.HeholdsDMAandMMdegreesfromSUNYStonyBrook,andaBMfromWilliamPatersonUniversitywhereheservesontheperformingartsfaculty.WiththeMeridianArtsEnsembleinresidence,infallof2007hejoinedthefacultyofManhattanSchoolofMusic’sgraduateContemporaryPerformanceprogram.PeterJarvis:

PeterJarvisisapercussionist,conductor,drummer,composer,copyist,printmusiceditorandeducator.Overtheyearshehasappearedasconductorand/orpercussionistwithmanyimportantnewmusicensemblesintheUnitedStatesandabroadincludingperformancesonnewmusic/artsfestivalssuchastheEurope/AsiaFestivalandtheHongKongArtsFestival.TheNewYorkTimeshassaidaboutJarvis'sconducting:"...[He]didfulljusticetoitsrhythmiccomplexities;Mr.Jarvisandhisforcesrichlydeservedthestandingovationtheyreceived."AccordingtotheNewMusicConnoisseur:"Whilethenewmusicsceneaboundswithpercussionists,onlyaveryfewcanmatchtheawesomemusicianshipofPeterJarvis."

SomeofhisrecentprojectsincludescoringandarrangingforfilmandtelevisionincludingworkontheHBOseriesBoardwalkEmpire(season2,episode10–GeorgiaPeaches)JarviswillbeheardperforminghisOntheBoardwalk,whichisapercussionsoloonvariouspercussioninstrumentsculminatingwithanimprovisationondrumset.

JarvishasworkedcloselywithfeaturefilmdirectorWesAndersononAnderson’slatestmovieMoonriseKingdomduetobereleasedonMay25,2012.Themoviewillincludeseveralarrangements,transcriptions,performancesand“additionalmusic”composingeffortsbyJarvis.Duringtherecordingofthemusic,heservedassectionleaderandplayedmanyofthekeyparts.

Hehasperformedand/orrecordedwithcomposersandmusicianssuchasJohnCageandKungChiShingamongotherprominentfigures.HehasbeeninvitedtoconducttheUnitedStatesCoastGuardChamberPlayersinaperformanceofMessiaen’sOiseauxExotiques(ExoticBirds).

JarvisteachesmusicatConnecticutCollegeandWilliamPatersonUniversity.Histeachingresponsibilitiesincludeacademicclasses,percussionlessons,coaching/conductingchambermusicanddirectingtheNewMusicSeriesatWilliamPatersonUniversityandseveralconcertsayearatConnecticutCollege.

HiscompositionsarepublishedbyCalabreseBrothersMusic,LLCandheisamemberofBMI.

‐ExtractedfromWikipediaPaytonMacDonald:

PaytonMacDonald(b.1974,IdahoFalls,Idaho)isacomposer,improviser,andpercussionist.HehascreatedauniquebodyofworkthatdrawsuponhisextensiveexperiencewithEastIndiantabladrumming,Americanmilitaryrudimentaldrumming,Jazz,Europeanclassicalmusic,andtheAmericanexperimentaltradition.Heworksacrossmultiplemusicalgenres,oftenatthesametime.SeveralrecordingsofMacDonald'smusicexist,includingthecriticallyacclaimedPaytonMacDonald:WorksforTablaontheATMAlabel.

In2009,MacDonaldperformedhispercussionconcertoinDenverwithAlarmWillSoundfortheFriendsofChamberMusic.TheDenverPostwrote"...oneofthehighlights,"CowboyTabla/CowboyRaga"...Thetwopiecesfuseintoa20‐minutewhole,creatinganalluring,ever‐changingexoticmusicaljourney."HealsoperformedthepieceatCarnegieHallwithAlarmWillSoundandagainattheWaltDisneyConcertHallinL.A.withtheL.A.PhilharmonicwithJohnAdams.TheNewYorkTimesdescribedhimasan"energeticsoloist."TheLosAngelesTimesdescribedhimasan"...inventive,stylisticallyomnivorouscomposerandgiftedperformer..."Hismusichasalsobeendescribedas"...engagingandutterlybeautiful."(Sequenza21)MacDonaldhasbeenafeaturedperformerofhisownmusiconnumerousincludingthoseinMontreal(Voyages)andMinneapolis(ElectricEyes).

Numerousensembleshaveperformedhismusicaroundtheworld,includingSoPercussion,AlarmWillSound,theLosAngelesPhilharmonic,QuintetMontRoyal,ClassicalJam,guitaristMakGrgic,andtablasoloistShawnMativetsky.HehasreceivedgrantsandawardsfromASCAP,MeettheComposer,TheAmericanMusicCenter,AmericanInstituteofIndianStudies,aswellasfellowshipsfromYaddoandRagdale.HehasalsocomposedmusicfortheSilkenDanceCompany.UpcomingprojectsincludecommissionsfortheJACKQuartetandAlanSenerattheUniversityofIowaDanceProgramandacommissionforanarrangementofGavinBryarsSinkingoftheTitanic.

AsaperformerheisafoundingmemberofAlarmWillSound,achamberorchestra.AlarmWillSoundiscurrentlyregardedasoneoftheforemostnewmusicensemblesinthecountryandtheyhavemadefiverecordingsontheNonesuchandCantaloupelabels.TheNewYorkTimeswrotethattheyare"thefutureofclassicalmusic."MacDonaldalsofrequentlyappearsasamarimbasoloistwithSuperMarimba.WiththisprojectMacDonaldperformshisownmusicusingloopingmachinesanddelaypedals.MacDonaldexpandstheprojectwiththeSuperMarimbaBand,whichincludesdrums,bass,andtwobarisaxophones.Healsoperformsfull‐lengthconcertsoffreelyimprovisedmusic.

Asaninterpreterhehascommissionedworksfromothercomposers,includingCharlesWuorinen,RobertMorris,CalebBurhans,DavidSaperstein,andStuartSaundersSmith.From1994‐2004MacDonaldperformedwithVerederos,afluteandpercussionduo.VerederosrecordedtwoCDsundertheEquilibriumlabel.HehasalsoappearedasasoloistinEnglandandCroatia,performedwithPresentMusicandtheNewJerseyPercussionEnsemble,andtouredJapanwithKeikoAbeandtheGalaxypercussiongroup.Hehasalsoperformedwithsinger/songwriterNoeVenable.

MacDonaldstudiedmusicattheUniversityofMichiganandtheEastmanSchoolofMusic.HiscompositionteachersincludedSydneyHodkinson,RobertMorris,DaveRivello,BrightSheng,andAugustaReadThomas.HispercussionteachersincludedJohnBeckandMichaelUdow.FurtherstudiesincludetablawithBobBeckerandPanditShardaSahai.MacDonaldisadiscipleofMr.Sahai.

MacDonaldisanAssociateProfessorofMusicatWilliamPatersonUniversity,whereheteachescontemporarymusic,percussion,improvisation,andHindustanimusic.Whennotcreatingmusic,MacDonaldisanenduranceathlete,competingintriathlonsandtrailrunraces.Lastyearhecompletedseventriathlons.HekeepsablogcalledSoulofTriathlon.Heandhiswifearealsobusyraisingtwoyounggirls,MadelineandMaia,agesthreeandone.Seewww.paytonmacdonald.comformoreinformationabouthislifeandwork.TheoMetz:

TheoMetzisacontemporarypercussionistandcomposerfromAlabamawhoearnedhisBachelorofMusicwithhonorsfromWilliamPatersonUniversityinpercussionperformanceandhisMastersofMusicfromSUNYPurchaseinstudiocomposition.HehasperformedwithWiresUnderTension,SlowSix,AlexanderTurnquist,Dr.T.V.Gopalakrishnan,DuYun,MimiGoeseandBenNeill,QianYi,DBRandtheMission,ChristopherTignor,SuperMarimba,RidgewoodSymphonyOrchestra,NorthJerseyOrchestra,NewJerseyPercussionEnsemble,BrooklynRiders,andhastouredtheUnitedStates,Canada,India,Spain,Portugal,Italy,Poland,Japan,andChina.Hehasbeennotedasa“bad‐asspercussivetechnician”(TheSilentBallet)andhisplaying

hasbeencalled"mesmerizingfrombeginningtoend,roboticinitsprecisionbutorganicinitswarmth"(Adequacy).

HeiscurrentlyteachingmusictechnologyatWilliamPatersonUniversityandperformingandcomposingformultipleartistsofvaryinggenres.www.theometz.comKevinNorton:

KevinNorton,borninBrooklynandraisedinStatenIsland,NY,thecomposer/percussionistcametojazzinanunlikelysetting,butbefriendeddrummerandfellowrecordcollectorKennyWashingtonasateenager.StudiesatHunterCollege(inNYC)introducedKevintoMiltHintonandafterashortperiod,KevinbegantoperformwithMilt,eventuallyrecordingTheJudge’sDecisionwithaquartetledbyMilt.UnderMilt’sencouragement,KevinwentbacktoschooltogethisMastersDegreefromManhattanSchoolofMusic.Aftergraduationheplayedeverykindofgigavailabletoaversatilepercussionist:classical,jazz,blues,Dixieland,off‐Broadwayshows,rock,butespeciallytakingpartintheblossomingdowntownNewYorkCityscenethatstrovetocombineallthese“styles”.ThisleadtohimplayingwithFredFrith’sbandKeeptheDog,whichalsoincludedharpistZeenaParkinsandsaxophonistJohnZorn.SoonMr.NortonwasaskedtoplaywithavastamountofdowntownNewYork(sometimescalledtheKnittingFactoryscene)ensembles.However,helongedtoreturntohisjazzrootsandbegantodevotehimselftohisownprojectsfeaturinghiscompositionworkandhisimprovisingontotalpercussion(predominatelyvibesanddrums).Kevinhascomposedseveralmulti‐movementpiecessometimesbasedonextra‐musicalsubjectmatter.ForGuyDebord(innineevents)isacompositionforquintetandwoodwindsoloist(originallyAnthonyBraxton)basedonthetextsoftheradicalFrenchphilosopherwhosethoughtprovedcentraltotheriotsofParis,1968.ChangeDance(Troubled)Energydrawsit’sinspirationfromanotherradicalpoliticalactivist,KathyChange(bornKathleenChang).Bothsuitesareapproximatelyanhourinduration.OnFebruary23rd2006Kevin’sWaterandFireSuitewaspremiered.ItwascommissionedaspartofthenationalseriesofworksfromMeetTheComposerCommissioningMusic/USA,whichismadepossiblebygeneroussupportfromtheNationalEndowmentfortheArts,TheHelenF.WhitakerFund,andtheTargetFoundation.Inlessthan10yearshehasleadand/orco‐leadabout20criticallyacclaimedrecordings,manyofthemmakingyear‐end“Bestof”lists.Oneoftherecentrecordings,Time‐SpaceModulatorintegratesintricate,sophisticatedcompositionworkwiththedeepimprovisatoryskillsofKevin,TonyMalaby,JohnLindbergandDaveBallou.KevinhasalsoplayedwithmanyhighlyesteemedEuropeanimproviserssuchasPaulRogers,JoëlleLéandre,PaulDunmallandFrodeGjerstad.Also,foraboutthenyears,Mr.NortonwasAnthonyBraxton’smainpercussionistinboththe“ghosttrance”phaseandthe“standards”phase,plottingoutthecourseforallpercussionistswhofollowedhim.InJuneof2002,KevinNortonwasaresident

composerattheprestigiousMacDowellColony.HehasservedonthefacultyofseveralschoolsandiscurrentlyonthefacultyofWilliamPatersonUniversity.SomeofhismostrecentcompositionworkcanbeheardinthefilmAnnaMayWong:InHerOwnWords,dir.ByY.Hong.TravisJ.Salim:

TravisJ.Salimisacomposer,arranger,andperformer.HeiscurrentlyattendingWilliamPatersonUniversityinWayne,NJpursuingaB.M.inMusicEducationontheClassicaltrack.Heisapercussionist,andhasstudiedwithGaryVanDykeandPaytonMacDonald.Inaddition,heenjoysplayingguitarandsinging.Heisacomposer,havingstudiedcompositionwithDr.JohnLink.Hewillcontinuetostudycompositionprivatelyinthenearfuture.SalimisalsoworkswithMorrisHillsHighSchoolinRockaway,NJ,workingasthefrontensemblecoachandtechnicianfortheiraward‐winningmarchingbandduringthefall,andteachingtheirpercussionensembleduringthewinter/spring.

SteveReich

SteveReich(b.1936)isoneofAmerica’sleadingcomposers.HewastrainedasadrummerandquicklybecameinterestedinthemusicofAsiaandAfrica.HehasalsodevelopedextensiveinterestedinthetraditionsofJewishmusic.Duringthelate1960s,Reichexperimentedwithcombiningcompositionandperformance,integratingthetraditionsofnotationandimprovisation.PerhapshismostfamousworkisapiececalledDrumming,firstperformedin1971,whichincorporatesaspectsofritualintoperformance.Reich’smusichasconsistentlyfocusedonissuesofrhythmicvariationandrepetition.Withinaminimalisttexturehehasachievedasubtletyoftimbreandlisteningthatprojectsanintensityofcolor,mood,andcontemplationwemightassociatewiththeluminosityofcertainminimalistpaintersandsculptors,includingAgnesmartinandSolLeWitt.ReichisoneofAmerica’sgenuineinnovatorsandperhapsthegreatestexponentofmusicalminimalism.Buthisminimalism,ironically,istrulyoneofsurface.Depthandvariationareapparentbeneaththeexternalsofhiswork.

GaryVanDyke

GaryVanDykeisanaccomplishedpercussionistwhoisactiveasaperformer,conductorandeducator.HestudiedpercussionwithRaymondDesRochesforsixyearsandearnedmusicdegreesfromWilliamPatersonCollegeandtheStateUniversityofNewYorkatStonyBrook.Mr.VanDykeperformsandconductswiththeNewJerseyNewMusicEnsembleandtheNewJerseyPercussionEnsemble.HecanbeheardonNonesuch,Composer’sRecordingInc.,NewWorldandCapstonerecordinglabelswiththeNewJerseyPercussionEnsembleunderCharlesWuorinen,HarveySolbergerandRaymondDesRoches.

Mr.VanDykehasheldteachingpositionssince1978andcurrentlyteaches/conductsfortheTeaneckPublicSchoolsysteminNewJersey,servingsevenschools,grades4–12,andisanAdjunctFacultyatWilliamPatersonUniversity,conductingandperformingnewmusicandpercussionensembleliterature. Mr.VanDykemakeshishomeinRamsey,NewJerseywithhiswife,Lineaandtheirthreechildren,Amanda,KyleandBriana.

ManythankstothetechcrewunderthedirectionofAlSchaefer.

NewMusicSeries–2011‐2012

AllConcertsareat7:30PMunlessotherwisestated.AllperformancesareinSheaAuditoriumunlessotherwisestated.

Allprogramsaresubjecttochangewithoutnotice.November7,2011;7:30PM–SheaCenter,SheaAuditorium:FeaturingtheJarvis–PritskerDuo,NickolasDoktor,PaytonMacDonaldandMichiyoSuzuki–worksbyJohnCage,HelmutChristoferusCalabrese,GérardGrisey,PeterJarvis,JeffreyKresky,GenePritskerandDavidSaperstein.Threeworldpremiereswillbeperformed.November28,2010;7:30PM‐SheaCenter,SheaAuditorium:WPUPercussionandNewMusicEnsembles.Musicby:LouHarrison/JohnCage,CarsonCooman,MarioDavidovsky,andPeterJarvisFebruary6,2011;7:30PM‐SheaCenter,SheaAuditorium:ComposersConcordanceMarch5,2011;CageFest–MusicbyJohnCageincelebrationofhiscentennial.GuestsincludeJudithBettina,MeganSipe,andtheNewJerseyPercussionEnsemble.March12,2012;7:30PM–SheaCenter.SheaAuditorium:WPUPercussionandNewMusicEnsembles–AprogramofSolosandDuos,worksbyKevinNorton,ElliottCarter,ArthurKreiger,TravisJ.Salim,JohnCage,PatrickGrant,GyörgyLigeti,andothersApril2,2012;7:30PM‐SheaCenter,SheaAuditorium:AspartoftheWilliamPatersonUniversityCrossCulturalArtsFestival:worksbyVillaLobos,CarlosChavez,PeterWestergaard,andothers.April23,2012;7:30PM‐SheaCenter,SheaAuditorium:WPUPercussionandNewMusicEnsemblesworksbyPaytonMacDonald,JohnCage,SteveReich,TravisJ.Salim,andothers SpecialThanksTo

TheTechCrewasdirectedbyAlSchaefer.