Featured Composition: Parallel Passages (solo timpani + tape) by Tom Hamilton


This Underground Classic by Tom Hamilton for timpani and tape from the late 1970s is a unique choice for any student or professional recital. The 1970s-style synthesized electronic soundscape (provided on CD) creates a evocative canvas for the driving rhythms and ethereal glissandi in the timpani. This work (recently rediscovered) is probably the first to feature timpani with electronics! Click HERE to hear audio samples.

Featured Book: Techniques and Basic Patterns for Congas, Timbales, and Bongos by Rolando Morales-Matos


This comprehensive Latin percussion book, written by expert Rolando Morales-Matos (Bachovich January Composer of the Month), is a must-have for all students. Working through this Latin percussion Bible provides the equivalent of a year of private instruction on each instrument. The book has already received rave reviews:

Techniques and Basic Patterns for Congas Timbales, and Bongos is exactly what I had been waiting for all these years: a comprehensive approach for those coming into the study of Latin percussion from someone who "gets it". No one better in the world to put out this book than this superb artist who understands how the mind of a classically-trained percussionist really works in relation to these instruments! Congratulations and THANK YOU for this fabulous pedagogical tool!
~ Fernando Meza (University of Minnesota).

Included with the book are 2 CDs, full of audio samples of the exercises and patterns to help in mastering congas, timbales, and bongos. For more reviews and audio samples, click HERE.

Featured Media: (CD) Synchronicity - Like Minds


Like Minds is the recording debut for brothers Garah and Gregory Landes as piano-percussion duo Synchronicity. The CD features a fusion of jazz and classical styles through transcriptions (including Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring and Debussy’s The Sunken Cathedral) and original works. The duo is also joined by soprano and double bass for select works on the CD. The percussion playing features a virtuosic display of melodic and multi-percussion. Like Minds features talented musicians performing a mix of challenging piano-percussion duo repertoire. For audio and video samples and more info, click HERE.

Composer of the Month: Charlie Descarfino


Charlie Descarfino, this month's featured Bachovich percussionist/composer, is at home in a wide range of musical environments. He has performed with a number of classical ensembles, including the American Symphony Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, the American Composer's Orchestra, the New York City Ballet Orchestra, the EOS Orchestra, and the Brooklyn Philharmonic. He is a mainstay on Broadway, having performed on the shows Sweet Charity, Thoroughly Modern Millie, City of Angels, The Who’s Tommy, Titanic, Suessical, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. He has recorded for a number of record labels and jingles and can be heard on Disney's Mulan and the movie version of The Producers. Additionally, he is well-versed in jazz and popular circles, having performed with the Louie Bellson Big Band and artists such as Roberta Flack, Bette Midler, Freddy Cole, Kenny Rankin, Ben Vereen, and Jewel. To call Charlie's musical background diverse is an understatement.

Explore Charlie's compositional style in his work Temples, Evening, Winds, and Metal for flute and percussion quartet. The flute and metallic percussion (vibraphone, gongs, wind chimes, etc.) create a beautiful setting for the reading of 17th century Japanese haikus. The work is deep and nuanced and paints a brilliant Japanese landscape. For more information and audio samples, click HERE.

Thank you, Charlie, for your wonderful piece!