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.