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75th Birthday Compilation
Introduction
Music has always been one of the most successful parts of my life since my childhood. This is a compilation of my musical accomplishments as a performer and educator between 1956 – 2001. This compilation was originally presented to my family and friends during my 75th birthday celebration. It begins with my earliest percussion lessons under Harold Firestone and moves on to my recital performances at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. Next. are pinnacle moments from performances as principal percussionist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The post concludes with excerpts of a 2004 video lecture from my Developing Rhythmic Sensitivity course and the 2001 grand finale percussion ensemble concert at Georgia State University. Thank you for becoming part of my life and for sharing in my birthday celebration.
Track 1: Firestone Prequel Part 1
I began taking percussion lessons at age 10. This collection represents my earliest musical performances recorded by my teacher, Harold Firestone, in his private percussion studio.
Track 2: Firestone Prequel Part 2
This second collection of studio recordings covers the years of 1958-1960 when I was 13 – 15 years old. It concludes with a fast two mallet xylophone solo entitled Steppin’ Around.
Track 3: Perpetual Motion
My performance of Perpetual Motion contains approximately 2800 sixteenth notes played in 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Considering it was recorded before a live audience, I believe it had a high rate of accuracy.
Track 4: Konzert für Pauken und Orchester
This is an intricate, highly rhythmic performance for five timpani that includes a difficult cadenza with numerous pedal changes.
Track 5: Concert Asiatique
This is a fascinating work for multi-percussion and has a remarkably fast xylophone part.
Track 6: Zigeunerweisen (Pablo De Sarasate)
Zigeunerweisen was a challenging performance because I was using a new four-mallet ripple-roll technique and playing two mallets faster than I ever had before.
Track 7: Concertino for Marimba
This performance was a unique experience, as I had to hire a 21-piece student orchestra from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music.
Track 8: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Young People’s Concert
This short performance occurred in 1967 after I had been principal percussionist with the orchestra for only a few months- I was scared.
Track 9: ASO Excerpts from Porgy & Bess, and An American in Paris
My xylophone performances in these two orchestral works were the highlights of my performing career. They occurred one year before my retirement in 1999.
Track 10: GSU Developing Rhythmic Sensitivity Class Lecture
1. Bell’s Law of Rhythm
2. Rhythmic Patterns
3. Pulses
4. Unit Counts
Track 11: GSU Grand Finale!
I believe this performance was my paramount moment at Georgia State University’s School of Music. My percussion ensemble was divided into a full steel band, a mallet ensemble, drum set, and over 30 of my percussion students—present and past—playing hand drums and dozens of accessory percussion instruments on the stage of the Rialto Theater in downtown Atlanta. The Rialto has a seating capacity of 833 seats. It was filled to overflow. The Grand Finale performance ended with the audience participating in a limbo contest on stage and the most memorable standing ovation of my life.