The new Performing Arts Center has proven to be an inspiring addition to 麻豆原创鈥檚 campus鈥攕o inspiring that the 麻豆原创 Music Department and professor Thad Anderson commissioned a percussion piece dedicated to the new building. The piece is called 鈥淔lying Tones.鈥�
Working with composer Zack Browning of the University of Illinois, Anderson and a group of percussion majors premiered the unique piece that then became part of a compilation on a CD titled Secret Pulse. Other artists joining the 麻豆原创 Percussion Ensemble include well-known groups such as the Cadillac Moon Ensemble and the JACK Quartet.
Secret Pulse was recently released by Innova Recordings, an independent music label. Some of the label鈥檚 previous artists and albums have gone on to be nominated for and win Pulitzer Prizes, as well as GRAMMY and Emmy awards.
Once the piece was composed, Browning came to campus to work with the ensemble on tweaking the music and preparing for the premiere and recording.
鈥淶ach came in a few days before the event and we got to workshop the piece,鈥� Anderson says. 鈥淲e made specific instrument choices鈥攆or instance, he asked for metal sounds, so we would try different metallic objects like brake drums, pots, and bell plates.鈥�
Thad especially enjoys this pre-performance collaboration. 鈥淥nce the composer creates a new piece, it is the performers job to interpret the music and present it to an audience, he says. “Having the opportunity to work closely with a composer prior to the initial performance is where the real collaboration happens. It鈥檚 an opportunity to put yourself into a piece a music before anyone else gets a chance to.鈥�
Want to hear the piece?
Visit the SoundCloud link for 鈥淔lying Tones鈥�.
Want to watch the original performance?
You can see the entire concert on 麻豆原创’s YouTube site at this –“Flying Tones” starts at about 14:25.
Or, you could always just go see it live.
Go visit the 鈥淔lorida Day of Percussion’ in Tampa on March 24th and watch the 麻豆原创 Percussion Ensemble perform the piece live.