Par MANTOVANI BRUNO. Contrary to what one might think, it is particularly difficult to write a solo or concertante work for an instrument that a person is very familiar with. Whenever I encounter this situation, I always feel a certain reserve or prudence, or even apprehension about leaning toward facility, in terms of gestures. Lack of objectivity can result in the imagination being more instrumental than purely musical. However, when Benoît Cambreling came to me proposing that I write a concerto for timpani, I did not hesitate for an instant because this instrument possesses extraordinary and often under exploited musical potential. This percussion instrument often provides a type of harmonic and rhythmic base in the orchestra, but can also assume the role of a soloist. I began by writing an etude for solo timpani making use of glissandi, rhythmic inflections, as well as the melodic potential. Once this first step was completed, I began to 'orchestrate' the etude, or rather to extend the instrumental material into the orchestra by creating illusions of resonance, doublings, and echoes. Sometimes, the timpani also become a reservoir of ideas for the orchestra capable of triggering textures (as in instrumental electronic music). Here however, the instrument is above all treated in a melodic manner, reinforced, or not, by orchestral instruments that create a backdrop and the illusion of extension./ Répertoire / Timbales

Solos for Beginning through Early Intermediate level musicians
1st Recital Series rassemble 12 solos de styles variés qui permettent aux instrumentistes de niveau débutant à élémentaire de travailler des compositions originales et des arrangements d??uvres accordant une large place à l?expression et à la musicalité. Sur le compact disc, chaque morceau est joué à titre de démonstration. L?instrument soliste peut ensuite interpréter les pièces avec l?accompagnement seul. Et pour jouer en direct lors d?un concert, il est également possible d?acquérir les accompagnements de piano rassemblés dans des recueils vendus séparément.
Sommaire:
Kaitlin´s music box - Lindsay, Ann
The koi pod - Alan, Craig
Just as I am - Elliot, C. / Hannickel, Mike
The Can-Can - Offenbach, Jacques / Alan, Craig
Grandfather\'s clock - Work, Henry Clay / Hannickel, Mike
The Entertainer - Joplin, Scott / Lindsay, Ann
Arioso - Bach, Johann Sebastian / Alan, Craig
Along Came a Spider - Hannickel, Mike
Pizzicati from Sylvia - Delibes, Léo / Lindsay, Ann
Funeral March of a Marionette - Gounod, Charles François / Lindsay, Ann
Theme from String Quartet #2 Nocturne - Borodin, Alexander Porfirewitsj / Curnow, James
Rondeau - Nouret, Jean Joseph / Curnow, James / Partitions classique / Cuivres et percussions / Percussion / CURNOW

Six exciting works by Nexus percussionist Bill Cahn for unaccompanied timpani for the advanced performer. These pieces include a variety of styles influenced by music from Western Classical and Romantic periods North Indian tabla drumming and West African rhythms. Each piece may be played alone or in any combination.