Santavich Special 2010!!

2010 Santavich Holiday Special (FREE STUFF!):

1) Spend $30 or more, and get one item ($20 or less) FREE.
2) Spend $50 or more, and get any item FREE.
3) Spend $100 or more, and get any 2 items FREE.

*To redeem your FREE Santavich gifts, indicate which free item(s) you would like in an email to orders@bachovich.com.

~Thank you for visiting us at PASIC 2010! This was by far our best year, and for that we'd like to reward you! This special is good until Dec. 31st. If you order by December 18th, you should receive your order by Christmas.~

Featured Composition: Argentinean Suite for solo vibraphone by Pablo Bagilet

Take a trip south with Pablo Bagilet’s Argentinean Suite. Pablo now is a doctoral candidate at Michigan State University, but his vibraphone solo will take you back to Pablo’s childhood in Santa Fe, Argentina. Pablo has spent most of his life growing up, performing in, and teaching in Argentina, and this suite is infused with the bright melodies and lively rhythms of his home-country.

In addition to the sounds of Argentina, Pablo’s solo also incorporates a sad Argentinean tale. The third movement of the suite tells the story of a poor girl who sings while begging for money in the street. The performer is instructed to place coins on the vibraphone bars that correspond to the notes of the girl's sweet melody. Then, the performer has the ability to decide her fate (whether she survives or dies from a tragic shooting) and adjusts the coins accordingly (they fall, from her hand, to the ground if she dies).

This is a great, virtuosic (10 minute) work, and it is written in a marimba-esque style, with quick permutations. To hear an audio sample of Argentinean Suite, click HERE.

Featured Book (plus DVD): Riq Instructional DVD and Book (Basics of the Middle Eastern Tambourine) by Yousif Sheronick

Basics of the Middle Eastern Tambourine DVD lets you work directly with virtuoso Yousif Sheronick as he demonstrates and walks you through the basics of holding and playing the Riq and embellishing Middle Eastern rhythms in various positions and styles. The DVD also provides exercises for developing your tones and building strength, and it includes two fabulous solos performed by Yousif. The accompanying book provides over 50 Middle Eastern rhythms (with multiple embellishments) to work on. Learn more about the DVD/Book HERE, and watch the videos below to get a sense of the great instruction and ability demonstrated in the DVD:


Watch this trailer for Yousif's DVD/Book




Watch here to get a taste of Yousif's solo style and masterful ability

Featured Media: (CD) Behind the Mask by Tribal Sage (Javier Diaz)

Behind the Mask is the debut CD release by Tribal Sage, which features NYC percussionist/composers Javier Diaz (a Bachovich favorite!) and Roger Squitero. This genre-blending release brings together elements of jazz, electronica, New Age, Afro Cuban Rumba, and tribal World Beat grooves in this creative collaboration. The album highlights other great musicians (including Bill Evans on Sax, Toyin Spellman on English Horn, Lincoln Goines and Mark Egan on Bass) and features beautiful songwriting, exotic vocals, virtuosic percussion, and electronics. Listen to audio samples HERE and purchase this great album from Bachovich (a perfect holiday gift!) right HERE!

Featured Composer: Robert McClure

Robert McClure is one of Bachovich's most diverse composers. Robert is currently pursuing a DMA in composition at Rice University, where he is a TA in the Rice Electronic Music Lab. His diverse array of compositions--electronic and instrumental--have been accepted to festivals around the country and performed by musicians of all ages (from young students to professionals).

Robert’s marimba-percussion duo Go! won 2nd Place in the 2008 Ironworks Percussion Duo Composition Competition and helped introduce Robert to BMP. Bachovich also carries Robert’s ...of the Earth for percussion quartet and two very unique solo works: A Natural Regression (for solo marimba and solo prepared vibraphone) and Integrated Elements No. 3 ‘Divide by Five’ (for gyil and fixed media), which has been selected for performance at the SEAMUS 2011 conference at the University of Miami from January 20-22. [The gyil is a West African pentatonic “xylophone.” See the image below, which features Bachovich composer Valerie Naranjo.]




Robert’s portfolio includes a variety of interesting works available at Bachovich. For more information and audio samples of these works, click on their titles above. Happy Holidays Robert, and good luck in 2011!

Highlights (December)

PASIC was a huge success for Bachovich! Thanks to you, sales were up 50% from the previous year. That's why we are able to extend to you:

The 3rd Annual Santavich Holiday Special! (see details at the top of the page!)


~Bachovich Welcomes New Composers:

Luis Rivera
Prelude #4 for marimba and vibraphone (Chopin)
Pascal’s Motor Rhythms for percussion duet
Additive Music for vibraphone
Trois Nocturnes (No. 1) for marimba quartet (Chopin)
Quartet for Metal and Wood for 2 vibraphones and 2 marimbas
Three Marimbas for marimba trio
Vheissu for percussion quintet and piano

Pete DeSalvo
Sleigh Ride for mallet quartet (and optional percussion trio) (Leroy Anderson)

John Hadfield
(CD) The Eye of Gordon
(CD) John Hadfield: Displaced











~Other New Works from Your Favorite Bachovich Composers:

-V. Naranjo/A. Beall: Gmeng Se Na for solo gyil and chamber orchestra

-Gene Koshinski: Additive Method of Two-Mallet Study

-Pablo Bagilet: Baires for solo vibraphone and tam-tam

-Stanley Leonard: (CD) Acclamation


~Glass Jungle: Andrew Beall's CD Glass Jungle is now available on iTunes!



~New Website: Check out Bachovich composer and PAS Hall of Famer Stanley Leonard and his new website: www.stanleyleonard.com

~New Project: Matthew Welch's Blarvuster project--"the hidden nexus of Celtic and Balinese traditions"--can now be heard on its debut CD on the Tzadik label. Check out the CD and the Blarvuster website now.

~On Broadway:
Javier Diaz is now playing percussion on the new Broadway show Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown , and Charlie Descarfino is playing on the new show Elf.




~We've Gone Global: Bachovich continues to expand, with sales in Ireland, Lithuania, Costa Rica, Japan, France, Belgium, Poland, England, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, China, Taiwan, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Hungary.

Featured Composition: Nessun Dorma for Percussion Ensemble by Puccini/arr. D. Soulier

Nessun Dorma (arranged by Danny Soulier) is Puccini’s beautiful, famous aria from Turandot in an arrangement for a large percussion ensemble of 13 to 14 players [instrumentation includes: glockenspiel, 2 vibraphones, xylophone, chimes, 4 or 5 marimbas (4.3 and 4.5), timpani, suspended and crash cymbals, triangle, bass drum, and gong]. The lyrical vocal line is played by solo/duo marimba, and parts of the conclusion of the opera are included to close out the arrangement. Chordal marimba passages bring out the warm, rich harmonies in the aria, and vibraphones stand in for off-stage choir. This large work is great for high school and college percussion ensembles and this crowd-pleaser is a perfect introduction to one of the most passionate, beautiful pieces of classical music. To hear an audio sample, click HERE.

Featured Book: The Additive Method of Two-Mallet Study by Gene Koshinski

Gene Koshinski’s new book, The Additive Method of Two-Mallet Study, is designed to address a variety of two-mallet technical challenges that are often neglected for more popular 4-mallet practice. By analyzing the major works for two-mallet keyboard percussion, Gene identified twenty distinct technical challenges present in the repertoire and designed a collection of associated exercises. Each exercise utilizes an “Additive Method” (adding one note at a time) to help develop ability with scales that does not focus on playing them in their entirety.

In addition to the large collection of exercises, Gene’s method book also includes practice routines and charts, an annotated list of accompanied and unaccompanied two-mallet repertoire, and a grid that details which of the technical challenges are found in each two-mallet work. This is a great, new book and is ideal for not only mallet soloists but all percussionists alike. For more information, click HERE.

Featured Media: (CD) Glass Jungle by Andrew Beall

Glass Jungle is Andrew Beall’s second solo/composition release and it pays tribute to the ten years he has spent living in the “glass and concrete jungle” that is New York City. Title track Glass Jungle (for percussion soloist and percussion quartet) and Rancho Jubilee (for cajon trio; click the link for video!) are lively and vibrant. Solo marimba arrangements of Bach’s Air (on a G-String) and Pachebel’s Canon in D (performed by Andrew) are lyrical and tranquil. Andrew’s famed Song of Almah (marimba/cello version) and his arrangement of Card’s El Shaddai (for soprano and marimba) are rich and deeply passionate. Like Deliverance, Andrew’s first CD release, Glass Jungle features a variety of great solo and ensemble percussion writing and features outstanding performers, including Montgomery Hatch, Keith Aleo, Michael Singer, Jeremy Levine, Wilson Torres, and Javier Diaz. All of these compositions are available for purchase HERE at Bachovich Music Publications. To hear audio samples from all tracks on this great CD, click HERE.

Featured Composer: Stanley Leonard

Percussion legend Stanley Leonard was the Principal Timpanist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for 38 amazing years. Andre Previn called him “not only a virtuoso timpanist but a consummate musician” and, on his retirement, Lorin Maazel deemed him a “hard man to replace.” In addition to his outstanding performance career, Stanley taught at Carnegie Mellon University for twenty years, where he guided a great number of students to orchestral positions around the country.

Stanley is also well known for his great catalogue of percussion compositions that include technical etudes, solos for snare drum and timpani, and works for percussion ensemble. His works have been published by major publishing companies around the world. Bachovich carries two of his recent timpani solos, Madras and March and Scherzo, and will be carrying more of his publications and recordings soon.

Please join us in congratulating Bachovich Composer and Timpani Legend Stanley Leonard for his induction into the PAS Hall of Fame!! There will be a meet-and-greet at the Bachovich Booth #212 at PASIC from 1:30 to 2pm on Thursday, November 11. See you there!

Highlights (November)

~Come see us at PASIC: Booth #212.

Just like last year, Bachovich is offering GREAT SAVINGS off of your ENTIRE PURCHASE for the first people to show up at the booth. Show up and be the first person (save 50%!!!), the next three (save 20%!!), or the next five (save 10%!) at the booth for huge savings. Just mention this newsletter and promotional code "BMP." Get their fast and early Thursday morning to take advantage of this great opportunity.

~New Website: Check out Bachovich composer Tom Nazziola's slick new website: http://www.tomnazziola.com. Tons of great information about Tom and his various projects. Take a look.

~Bachovich Welcomes New Composers:

Glenn Paulson
Calabash for percussion trio
Rud-O-Meister for percussion trio
Guaguanco for percussion trio
Phonology for solo timpani

Daniel Adams
Diffusion Two for snare drum quartet
Concerto for euphonium and percussion quintet

Dave Gerhart
Quartet in F Major (mvt. 2) - Ravel, arr. for marimba quartet by Dave Gerhart
PanSon for steel band
Baila Alegre for steel band
Tribute for percussion duet

Diana Sussman
Said the Devoted to the Skeptical: A Dance of Discovery for solo marimba
Depart, Depart from Solid Earth for marimba, cello, soprano saxophone, and baritone saxophone


~Other New Works from Your Favorite Bachovich Composers:

Robert McClure
A Natural Regression for solo marimba and solo prepared vibraphone
Integrated Elements No. 3 for gyil and fixed media

Javier Diaz
Sakpatá for percussion ensemble and tape

Sean Statser
Enough Said for percussion duet and jazz ensemble

Andrew Beall
Seven To Queens for solo timpani


~We've Gone Global: Bachovich continues to expand, with sales in Ireland, Lithuania, Costa Rica, Japan, France, Belgium, Poland, England, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, China, Taiwan, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Hungary.

Featured Composition: Sonata for Percussion (large ensemble) by Joseph Pastor

Joseph Pastor’s Sonata for Percussion for large percussion ensemble is a lyrical, twenty-minute work in three movements. The score calls for 10 players: 4 mallet players, 4 auxiliary percussionists, a timpanist, and a piano player. The first movement bounces seamlessly between a march-feel and a 12/8 swing/jazzy groove. The second movement utilizes a melodic adagio melody that floats above soft cymbal accompaniment. The work concludes with a flying third movement that features riveting chromatic lines and a dramatic finale. This harmonic work of percussion ensemble literature is great for college and professional ensembles and advanced high school groups. For audio samples from each movement, click HERE.

Featured Book: The 2010 MassChap Xylophone Collection

The 2010 MassChap Xylophone Collection was compiled by Samuel Solomon and released at the Massachusetts Day of Percussion last March. This collection consists of 50 great new etudes! (even more than its older brother, the 2008 Snare Drum Collection). Thirty-two of the etudes were selected as competition winners and were submitted by composers and percussionists from around the world. The other eighteen were written by invited composers, including Joseph Pereira (LA Philharmonic), Lee Vinson (Boston Symphony Orchestra), and compiler Samuel Solomon (Boston Conservatory). For a great new book of xylophone solos and etudes with incredible variety, check out the 2010 MassChap Xylophone Collection.

Featured Media: (CD) Joseph Gramley: American Deconstruction

American Deconstruction is multi-percussionist Joe Gramley’s 2000 solo release. The album consists of 5 contemporary percussion classics: multi-percussion solos Anvil Chorus (David Lang) and Cold Pressed (Dave Hollinden), marimba duo Nagoya Marimbas (Steve Reich), and marimba solos Rhythm Song (Paul Smadbeck) and Meditation Preludes (William Duckworth; marimba and almglocken). Joe is one of America’s leading solo and contemporary percussionists, and this CD, featuring important works from the solo percussion canon, is a must-have for all percussionists. Check out American Deconstruction and other Joe Gramley CDs/DVDs HERE. For audio samples from each work, click HERE.

Featured Composer: Larry Spivack

New York City composer and percussionist Larry Spivack is one of the more unique artists on the Bachovich roster. He studied at Brooklyn College and The Juilliard School with legends Arnie Lang, Saul Goodman, and Buster Bailey. As a freelance percussionist, Larry has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, the American Symphony and on 39 different Broadway shows. He has written works for the Lang Percussion Company, Broadway (Kafka's Metamorphosis), the New York Shakespeare Festival (Coriolanus starring Christopher Walken), Bob Fosse and the School of American Ballet, film scores, and ABC television (a 3-second brass/percussion/synthesizer fanfare used from 1980-82!). Larry has done arranging and orchestration for Patti LaBelle and Placido Domingo. He is also the co-editor of The Dictionary of Percussion Terms in the Symphonic Literature (published by Carl Fischer) and has written a one-man show (The Tune of the Unknown Soloist) with songs and stories about his most unique experiences in music.

Larry's compositions for percussion are fun and quirky. His most frequently performed Quartet for Paper Bags has been performed around the world. Through Bachovich, you can get Larry's 3-minute Double Concertino for Timpani and Percussion (subtitled "When Professor Rhianini Met Lorenzo Spuccini") with versions for full orchestra or piano reduction. This short work features soloists on timpani (4 drums), xylophone, and a whole kitchen-sink of percussion gadgets (toys, whistles, sirens, solo flexatone, accessories, and "The Cymbal Guy"). To hear a sample, click HERE.

Larry is co-founder of "The Cymbal Guy," a self-crashing device for two orchestral crash cymbals that mounts on and is activated by a hi-hat foot pedal. This unique instrument is demonstrated in Larry's similarly-titled raperetta The Cymbal Guy for 8 cymbal players/actors (and an additional 3 actors). Hear it and read more HERE.

"The Cymbal Guy" will once again be on display at the Bachovich Booth (#212) at PASIC. Come by to try it and see what its all about.

Thanks Larry for all your creative contributions to the percussion world. Good luck this fall!

Highlights (October)

~Congratulations: Please join us in congratulating Bachovich Composer and Timpani Legend Stanley Leonard for his induction into the PAS Hall of Fame!! There will be a meet-and-greet at the Bachovich Booth at PASIC. More info soon!

~Come see us at PASIC: Booth #212. Also, look out for our PASIC Special in our November newsletter!

~Winners: The IronWorks Percussion Duo announces its 3rd Annual Composition Contest Winners. Selected works to be published by Bachovich. Find out more HERE.


~Bachovich Welcomes New Composers:

Daniel Adams
Diffusion Two for snare drum quartet
Concerto for euphonium and percussion quintet

Dave Gerhart
Quartet in F Major (mvt. 2) - Ravel, arr. for marimba quartet by Dave Gerhart
PanSon for steel band
Baila Alegre for steel band
Tribute for percussion duet

Diana Sussman
Said the Devoted to the Skeptical: A Dance of Discovery for solo marimba
Depart, Depart from Solid Earth for marimba, cello, soprano saxophone, and baritone saxophone


~Other New Works from Your Favorite Bachovich Composers:

Robert McClure
A Natural Regression for solo marimba and solo prepared vibraphone
Integrated Elements No. 3 for gyil and fixed media

Javier Diaz
Sakpatá for percussion ensemble and tape

Sean Statser
Enough Said for percussion duet and jazz ensemble

Andrew Beall
Seven To Queens for solo timpani


~We've Gone Global: Bachovich continues to expand, with sales in Ireland, Lithuania, Costa Rica, Japan, France, Belgium, Poland, England, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, China, Taiwan, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Hungary.

Featured Composition: Expansive Horizons for Solo Marimba by Daniel Temkin

Expansive Horizons for solo marimba is a virtuosic work from Daniel Temkin. The title comes from the images of nature--"brazen, jagged cliffs, to smooth, flowing rivers"--depicted throughout the work. The eight-minute fantasy begins with an established motive that is then transformed throughout the solo against many changing textures. The vast natural world is palpable in the work's many sections, including: "Cascading gently," "Soaring," and "Allegro meteorico."

Expansive Horizons was featured (in arrangement) in DCI and WGI competitions as part of Music City Mystique's 2010 show.

To hear an audio sample of this challenging work or visit Dan's personal website, click HERE.

Featured Book: "Down to the Wire" - A Contemporary Approach to the Concert Cimbalom by Richard Grimes

Down to the Wire, by composer and concert cimbalist Richard Grimes, continues the 19th-century tradition of the Hungarian cimbalom methods Cimbalom-Iskola and Cymbalschule and brings the cimbalom into the 21st century. Richard uses Western classical percussion techniques, in addition to traditional Hungarian cimbalom technique, to address issues of consistency and articulation. The result is a beautiful, full tone with less technical effort.

Down to the Wire is both a collection of 24 cimbalom etudes and a technical method addressing tuning, body position, hammer grip, articulation of tone, body of sound, soundboard coverage, and extended techniques. This comprehensive book covers everything in regards to technique that one needs to play cimbalom. As the repertoire for and necessitating cimbalom continues to expand, Richard's book Down to the Wire is a necessary and revolutionary addition to the world of the contemporary cimbalom. To get Down to the Wire, click HERE.

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Richard Grimes is also the artistic director of CimbFest: The American Concert Cimbalom Festival, the first American, all-cimbalom festival, which began in 2009. To find out more about CimbFest, click HERE. Also, contact Richard at richardgrimes@earthlink.net for more cimbalom information!

Featured Media: (CD) Hat Trick by The Rich Greenblatt Group

Hat Trick (2008) is the most recent album from the Boston-based Rich Greenblatt Group (vibes, saxophone, piano, bass, drums). All 9 tracks are original compositions by bandleader/ vibraphonist/composer Rich Greenblatt that mix funk, odd-meters, and South American and blues influences with modern jazz and swing. Whether you are familiar with earlier Rich Greenblatt releases Hot & Dry and Mooin' or are new to Rich and his band, Hat Trick is a great jazz album for you. To hear audio samples, click HERE; to buy the album, click HERE.

Featured Composer/Arranger: Doug Wallace

Doug Wallace is a versatile percussion soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. He has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and the Washington National Opera, at the Music Academy of the West (Santa Barbara, CA) and the Tanglewood Music Festival (Lennox, MA), and with a number of contemporary chamber ensembles (among others). Doug also has an extensive teaching resume. He runs the percussion programs at Madison High School, Thoreau Middle School, Kilmer Middle School, McLean High School, Longfellow Middle School (all in Virginia) and the American Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.

Doug's compositions have been performed all over: The Juilliard School, The Eastman School of Music, New York University, George Mason University, The Music Academy of the West, The Aspen Music Festival, Temple University, and at The Bands of America National Percussion Festival.

Check out Doug's great percussion ensemble arrangement of Frank Zappa's classic G-Spot Tornado for 8 players (drum set and either seven percussionists or six and electric bass). G-Spot Tornado, a virtuosic arrangement that encapsulates everything "Zappa," was the Bachovich Composition of the Month for June 2009 (see the feature HERE). For audio samples, click HERE.

Have a great summer, Doug. Keep up the good work!

Highlights (June)

~Bachovich Works in Italian Competition!:

Antonio Santangelo's International Competition for Percussion Instruments and Drumset will use the following Bachovich works as required pieces for their competition in September 2010:

-Snare Drum: 2008 PAS MassChap Snare Drum Collection (compiled by Samuel Solomon)
-Marimba: Fear of Silence (Joel Harrison)
-Vibraphone: Monte Nido (Richard Grimes)

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~Audio Music:

Check out Tom Hamilton's most recent release:

Pieces for Kohn / Formal & Informal Music
2-CD reissue of analog electronic music from the 1970s
featuring performances by Rich O'Donnell and JD Parran

For more info, click HERE.

Additionally, read Tom Hamilton's opinions on audio music (as answers to questions from writer Kurt Gottschalk) at the blog Spearmint Music.

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~Drumset and Percussion Camp with Bachovich Media Artist Wes Crawford:

Wes Crawford announces his 2010 Drumset and Percussion Camp:

Our camp runs from JULY 11-24, 2010 and is open to all drummers/percussionists ages 13-18 with at least one year of experience with school band and/or private lessons. The camp is held at Goucher College in Towson, MD and room and board are provided (or you may commute). The camp is part of the Goucher Summer Arts Institute, which includes concurrent interacting camps for Jazz, Computer Music, Dance, and Musical Theatre! I hope that many of you will consider this camp for a fun intensive experience in drumming! We have an incredible lineup of Faculty this year!

In addition to camp director Wes Crawford, the camp faculty features Bachovich President Andrew Beall. For more information about the camp, click HERE.

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~PAS Winner/Previously Published Work now with Bachovich:

Bachovich Music is proud to announce the publication of Soliloquy for solo vibraphone by Larry Spivack. This four-minute work won 2nd place in the 1980 PAS Composition Competition. It was published by the Lang Percussion Company in 1981 but has been out-of-print for many years. Larry Spivack recently revised the piece for the 2010 Edition in the Composer's Manuscript. Click HERE to watch video of Soliloquy.

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~Other New Bachovich Compositions:

-Perception Piece for multi-percussion duo by Jared Soldiviero

-Four for Flexatones for four flexatones (video) by Ju Ri Seo

-2010 MassChap Xylophone Collection compiled by Samuel Solomon

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~We've Gone Global:

Bachovich continues to expand, with sales in Lithuania, Costa Rica, Japan, France, Belgium, Poland, England, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, China, Taiwan, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Hungary.

Featured Composition: To Perseverance for Marimba and Woodwind by Michael Eagle

Michael Eagle's To Perseverance (dedicated to Christopher Deane) is a challenging piece of chamber music for marimba and a solo woodwind instrument. When you purchase the score, indicate if you would like an arrangement for flute, oboe, clarinet, english horn, bassoon, alto sax, or soprano sax. About the work, Michael writes:

"This advanced chamber work was written to depict the often overwhelming nature of a early adulthood. The piece begins with trial and tribulation and introduces a lamenting melodic figure that searches for purpose and resolution as aggressive and dissonant figures are seemingly around every corner."

To Perseverance is a versatile piece, great for any chamber concert or solo recital. Perform it with ANY of your woodwind-playing friends. For more information and audio samples, click HERE. And, watch Axiom Percussion's performance for marimba, vibes, and cimbalom (arranged for trio) on YouTube.

Featured Book: 500 4-Surface Patterns by Samuel Solomon

Solo percussion guru Sam Solomon is at it again with another one of his many great books: 500 4-Surface Patterns. This book provides a huge wealth of patterns for 4-mallet percussion playing that can be seamlessly applied to marimba, drum set, and multi-percussion. The concept is simple, but this book is a vast resource with endless applications. To buy it today, click HERE.

Featured Media: (DVD) Wes Crawford's Drumset Play-Along

Wes Crawford's Drumset Play-Along DVD is an innovative teaching tool that is both instructional and fun to use. This interactive DVD puts you on the drum throne with a professional pop band (performed by real professional musicians). Join the band on ten songs--in varying styles, including funk, jazz, R&B, disco, etc.--and perform with them at different "professional" gigs: your audition, club shows, a beach party, and many more. See the band and the venue from the perspective of the drummer while you play along on your drum set. The DVD includes tracks with and without drums and printable charts. This is a great opportunity--for young drummers who lack true professional experience--to feel like they are playing with a real band. Its the fun of Rock Band with real drumming on a real set. Perfect for Kids and Beginners! For more information, click HERE.

Featured Composer: Aaron Trant

"Fire-breathing" percussionist (21st Century Music) Aaron Trant's experience in classical, jazz, contemporary, rock, and improvisatory styles has made him a valuable asset and desired performer and composer for new ensembles around the US. He is a cofounder, composer, and performer for the After Quartet, which is dedicated to performing live accompaniment to silent films. Aaron is also a member of the Firebird Ensemble (assistant director and percussionist), Primary Duo (original member for piano-percussion duo;), Endy Emby (trumpet and percussion), Adam James Wilson Quintet, and High Street Percussion. Additionally, Aaron performs regularly with the Boston Modern Orchestra Players, the Fromm Project, and Alarm Will Sound. As a composer, Aaron has written works for Lisa Saffer, Mark Gould, Firebird Ensemble, After Quartet, Endy Emby and Primary Duo, and he has received the St. Botolph Club Foundation Grant-in-Aid and grants from the New England Foundation for the Arts.

Aaron's contemporary performance and composition resume speaks for itself, so check out Spiral for percussion trio. Spiral is a two-movement work. The first uses cycles of un-pitched percussion to create a melody over interlocked rhythms. The second movement, for primarily melodic pitched percussion, uses a slow, minimalist-style development of a melody over a lush, serene percussion layer of sound. For audio samples from both movements, click HERE.

Additionally, Aaron's xylophone solo "x is always for Xylophone" is featured in the 2010 MassChap Xylophone Collection (take a look in this month's HIGHLIGHTS).

Good luck this spring, Aaron. Keep up the great work!

Highlights (April)

~Bachovich Works in Italian Competition!: Antonio Santangelo's International Competition for Percussion Instruments and Drumset will use the following Bachovich works as required pieces for their competition in September 2010:

-Snare Drum: 2008 PAS MassChap Snare Drum Collection (compiled by Samuel Solomon)
-Marimba: Fear of Silence (Joel Harrison)
-Vibraphone: Monte Nido (Richard Grimes)

~Competition: The IronWorks Percussion Duo & The Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach are holding their 3rd Annual Composition Competition (2010). For more info, visit the Ironworks Percussion Duo online.

~Green Day: Bachovich Composer Trey Files is the drummer for the new Broadway production of Green Day's American Idiot, which opens this month.

~PAS Winner/Previously Published Work now with Bachovich::
Bachovich Music is proud to announce the publication of Soliloquy for solo vibraphone by Larry Spivack. This four-minute work won 2nd place in the 1980 PAS Composition Competition. It was published by the Lang Percussion Company in 1981 but has been out-of-print for many years. Larry Spivack recently revised the piece for the 2010 Edition in the Composer's Manuscript. Click HERE to watch video of Soliloquy.

~Other New Bachovich Compositions this Month:

-Perception Piece for multi-percussion duo by Jared Soldiviero

-Four for Flexatones for four flexatones (video) by Ju Ri Seo

-2010 MassChap Xylophone Collection compiled by Samuel Solomon

The Xylophone Collection was premiered at the 2010 MassChap "Day of Percussion". Bachovich congratulates the winners and contributors to this collection:

Winners:
Daniel Adams
Andrew S. Allen
Jenica Anderson
Victoria Aschheim
Casey Cangelosi
Jamieson Carr
James Charrette
Jeremy Craycraft
Justin Doute
Kirk Etheridge
Kevin Fuhrman
Masaki Hasebe
Fusun Koksai
Gene Koshinski
Setsuko Kutsuno
David Luidens
Lily (Wen) Lu
Dean Marotta
Karlyn Mason
Matthew McDonald
Joe Millea
Robert O'Brien
Alex A. Orfaly
Kazuki Oya
Luke Short
Greg Simonds
Aaron Trant
Philip Trembley
Chun-yu Tsai
Ivan Wan
Nicholas M. White

Invited Composers:
Lou Bunk
Marti Epstein
Peter Gilbert
Lee Vinson
Judd Greenstein
Curtis K. Hughes
Keeril Makan
Nicholas Papador
Joseph Pereira
Adam Roberts
Rudolf Rojahn
Adam B. Silverman
Samuel Z. Solomon
Ken Ueno
Dalit Hadass Warshaw

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~We've Gone Global: Bachovich continues to expand, with sales in Japan, France, Belgium, Poland, England, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, China, Taiwan, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Hungary.

Featured Composition: Uncompression for multi-percussion duo by Ming-ching Chiu

Ming-ching Chiu's Uncompression for multi-percussion duo was the Winner of the 2008 Ironworks Percussion Duo Composition Competition. Ming-ching Chiu is enthralled by the amazing processing capacity of computers and, in this piece, tries to imagine and "capture what goes on within a computer when it is unzipping a file." The three movement work utilizes set-ups of un-pitched percussion--featuring bass drums, toms, cymbals and gongs, pedals, mounted accessories, and an assortment of toys--to depict the inner-workings of computers. Its intricate and complex, with textures both delicate and thunderous. This is one groovin' computer! For audio and video samples of Uncompression (from all three movements), click HERE.

Featured Book: 10 Style Studies by Joe Tompkins

Joe Tompkins' 10 Style Studies for solo snare drum examines the unique characteristics of different drumming traditions (including Scottish drumming and fife and drum), each in its own solo. This book preceded Tompkins' popular Nine French/American Rudimental Solos; it is a more rudimental-style book but is still applicable to all drummers alike. To purchase another snare collection from today's most prominent solo snare composer, click HERE.

Featured Media: (CD) Charles Owen: Marimba Solos Performed with the "President's Own" Marine Band

This month, Bachovich features percussion-guru Charles Owen and his CD of Marimba Solos Performed with the "President's Own" Marine Band. A legendary percussionist featured with a legendary band! To hear a sample of Charlie Owen's marimba performance of Chopin's Grande Valse Brillante, click HERE.

Featured Composer/Arranger: Axel Clarke

Axel Clarke makes up half of the IronWorks Percussion Duo (the other half is Dr. Dave Gerhart, CSU Long Beach). Axel teaches with Gerhart at Cal State University, Long Beach, where he also completed his BA and MA in Percussion Performance. Axel has performed and recorded with the Long Beach Symphony, Long Beach Ballet, South Coast Symphony, Luis Conte, Ray Holman, Michael Spiro, CK Ladzepko, Sara Haze, Skanic, Chelsea Lena, The Kim Richmond Jazz Orchestra, The Robin Cox Ensemble, DMP, Next Exit, Coto Normal, Mehdi, Stephen Hartke, and for Discovery and Animal Planet documentaries. Like his playing and his compositions? Check out his large percussion ensemble work Bombasticus Cacophonosaurus (intermediate, 10 players) and his trios (for un-pitched percussion) Roe-Sham-Beau (based on the West African rhythm Abekwa) and Juggernaut. Thanks Axel!

Highlights (March)

~Drumming in NYC: The 2010 PAS NYC Weekend of Percussion (Feb 19-21) featured Bachovich Artists Frank Epstein, Wes Crawford, Jonathan Haas, Sean Statser, Javier Diaz, and Andrew Beall. Watch the video from Andrew Beall's Rancho Jubilee for Cajon Trio on YouTube.

~Green Day: Bachovich Composer Trey Files is the drummer for the new Broadway production of Green Day's American Idiot, which opens this month.

~Competition: The IronWorks Percussion Duo & The Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach are holding their 3rd Annual Composition Competition (2010). For more info, visit the Ironworks Percussion Duo online.

~New Bachovich Compositions this Month:

-2010 MassChap Xylophone Collection, compiled by Samuel Solomon

-Stanley Leonard - March & Scherzo and Madras, timpani solos from a legendary timpanist.

-Gene Koshinski - Capriccio, viola solo by Henry Vieuxtemps, transcribed for solo marimba.

~We've Gone Global: Bachovich continues to expand, with sales in Japan, France, Belgium, Poland, England, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, China, Taiwan, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Hungary.

Featured Composition: From Here to There for Drum Set and 4 Percussionists by Tom Nazziola

Tom Nazziola's From Here to There for 5 players (drum set plus four percussionists) utilizes both textural soundscapes and groove-oriented passages throughout its gradually-changing three movements. The second and third movements incorporate African and Latin jazz concepts that manifest themselves in both the drum set and the parts for melodic (marimba and vibraphone) and ethnic percussion. Additionally, From Here to There provides opportunities for written and improvised solos for drum set and has a definite Frank Zappa influence.

In regard to the work, Morris Lang (former New York Philharmonic percussionist) says:

"How often does one find a piece for percussion that is musically interesting and intelligently written, with a challenging drum set part, and yet totally accessible for the audience. Let's not let them know how serious and well organized it is."

To hear audio clips from each movement and read Tom Nazziola's personal notes on the piece, click HERE.

Featured Book: Variations on the First Three Pages of George Lawrence Stone’s Stick Control by Samuel Solomon

Samuel Solomon's Variations on the First Three Pages of George Lawrence Stone's Stick Control builds on the opening patterns of Stone's classic book to create an abundance of new technical exercises. Stone's first patterns are expanded and applied to many technical aspects of snare drumming and are used as a starting point for creating customized exercises. As Sam explains: "The simple yet extensive format offers endless opportunities for technical improvement. Slip Variations on Stick Control in between the pages of your copy of Stone's book, and use it as an addendum to its first three pages." Variations is yet another creative method book from Sam that is published by Bachovich Music Publications. For more information, click HERE.

Featured Media: (CD) Rich Greenblatt: Hot & Dry (Rich Greenblatt Vibes Quintet)

Rich Greenblatt is a Boston vibraphonist who has played in jazz clubs, concert halls, and jazz festivals around the US and Europe. He is the band leader of the Rich Greenblatt Vibes Quintet, which has recorded 3 albums. Their second album, Hot & Dry (2002) features Rich (vibes and marimba), Hide Tokunaga (guitar), Chris Taylor (piano), Dennis Irwin (bass), and Winard Harper (drums). Rich wrote 6 of the tracks on the album and arranged 5 other standards, including "Isfahan," "ESP," and "Woody 'n You." Listen to samples of all of the tracks HERE. For a great combo led by an emerging bandleader and jazz vibraphonist, pick up Hot & Dry.

Featured Composer/Arranger: Jared Soldiviero

Jared Soldiviero is an active NYC freelance percussionist, focusing on contemporary chamber music. Jared was an inaugural member of The Academy at Carnegie Hall, where he performed with Ensemble ACJW and taught in NYC public schools. Jared spent four summers at the Lucerne Festival, where he helped found the Lucerne Festival Percussion Group (now known as Ensemble XII). He has also conducted the Juilliard Percussion Ensemble, Flexible Music, Ensemble ACJW, and ACME. Take a look at Jared's recent composition Palindromes for multi-percussion duo. Be on the lookout for a new piece from Jared, available in the next few months! Good luck in 2010, Jared.

Highlights (February)

~2010 PAS NYC Weekend of Percussion (Feb 19-21):
This year's "Weekend" features Bachovich Artists Joseph Gramley, Wes Crawford, Jonathan Haas, Rolando Morales-Matos, Javier Diaz, and Andrew Beall



~Bachovich Welcomes New Composers:

-Stanley Leonard - March & Scherzo and Madras, timpani solos from a legendary timpanist

-Gene Koshinski - Capriccio, viola solo by Henry Vieuxtemps, transcribed for solo marimba

~Scholarships Available From Bachovich Composer Joe Tompkins!:
Rutgers University Percussion Program Faculty:
Alan Abel, Philadelphia Orchestra
Markus Rhoten, New York Philharmonic
Joseph Tompkins, New York Freelance

$15,000 Undergraduate Scholarship in Percussion Program (renewable annually): live and recorded auditions accepted (unedited DVD's only), submit application at http://www.rutgers.edu or schedule live audition at http://www.music.rutgers.edu

$25,000 Mason Gross School Graduate Scholarship (awarded to two graduate applicants department-wide): live and recorded auditions accepted (unedited DVD's only), submit application at http://www.gradstudy.rutgers.edu or schedule live audition at http://www.music.rutgers.edu

-Other scholarship monies and TA/DA monies available to competitive applicants.
-Live audition dates:
Undergraduate auditions February 6th, 2010 and March 1st, 2010
Graduate auditions February 12th, 2010 and March 1st, 2010
-Certain fees apply. See audition website for details.
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~Other New Exciting Publications Available This Month:

-Fer Barre Kona Jeno ("Don't Play Favorites"): West African Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra by Kakraba Lobi/Valerie Naranjo/Andrew Beall

~Tour Through Europe!: This month, Bachovich composer Stefano Del Sole will embark on a masterclass/concert tour, presenting his music at the Music Conservatories in Bari and Venice, at the Conservatoire National de Musique in Lyon (France), and finally at the Music Conservatory in Rodi Garganico.

~We've Gone Global: Bachovich continues to expand, with sales in Japan, France, Belgium, Poland, England, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, China, Taiwan, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Hungary.