Traditional Music for Drums and Fifes

A survey of drum beatings and fife tunes from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Participants will play pieces culled from rare and traditional method books, diaries, and anthologies of the period. They will play patriotic hymns, waltzes, funeral music and military camp duties and calls. They will learn about early drum techniques, notation, tempo and the role of the fife and drum in civilian and military life. The history of some of the most famous tunes, like "ca Ira" ("Downfall of Paris") and "Dixie", will be examined in detail, from their first appearances to their culmination in the writings of Bruce and Emmett.

Music will be provided in advance. All the melodies can be played on any combination of keyboard percussion instruments and/or fifes/ piccolos. The drum parts can be played on any combination of snare drums, tenor drums, and drum pads.

duration: 1 1/2 hours

A History of the Snare Drum

A 400-year period in the history of the snare drum will be examined using audio - visual aids, copies of historical documents, manuscripts, engravings and a rope tensioned field drum.

• 1. The origins of the drum
• 2. The important structural and mechanical developments
• 3. The evolution of rudiments
• 4. The evolution of drum notation
• 5. The development of drum tutors
• 6. The drums place in society from15th cent. England to the end of the Civil War in the United States.

duration: 1 1/2 hours

Composing & Performing Contemporary Music for Percussion

Percussion instruments are unique in their number, diverse sounds, tuning, and physical characteristics. This lecture/demonstration for percussionists, composers and conductors, is intended to clarify some of the issues that profoundly affect contemporary music. Among these are scoring, notation, orchestration, instrumental techniques, logistics, time and space. Special attention will be given to the ambiguous nature - and enormous potential - of non- pitched percussion.

The growth of the importance of percussion will also be explored by examining the contributions of inventors, teachers, performers and composers. Compositions such as " La Creation Du Monde", " Ionisation", "Quartet for Percussion, no Instruments Specified", "4'33' ", "Zyklus", "Music for Pieces of Wood", "From me flows what you call Time", and "Concerto for Water Percussion", will be reviewed.

duration: 1 1/2 hours

All inquiries about residencies, workshops, clinics and masterclasses should be addressed to:

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