Percussion Ensembles by Decade

Question 1

1920s

Answer 1

1920 - Tcherepnin “Symphony no. 1” (2nd mvt. for percussion)

1925 - George Antheil “Ballet Mécanique” (original version, premiered 1927)

Question 2

1930s

Answer 2

1930 - Roldan “Ritmicas 5 and 6”
1931 - Varese, “Ionisation” (Premiered 1933 Nicholas Slonimsky conducting)
1933 - C.O. Musser World’s fair performance
1934 - Cowell, “Ostinato Pianissimo
1939 - Cowell, “Pulse”
1939 - Cage, “First Construction”

Cowell - Pan American Association of Composers

Others - Johanna Beyer (“Percussion Op. 14” “March for 30 Percussion Instruments” “Waltz for Percussion”

Question 3

1940s

Answer 3

’30s-40s - Ardevol (Various comp. from Cuba)
1941 - Cage/Harrison, “Double Music”
1940 - Cage “2nd Construction”
1941 - Cage “3rd Construction)
1942 - Harrison, “Canticle no. 3” (Indian/Mexican influence, ocarina)
1942 - Chavez, “Toccata” (Mexican inspired, trad. Mexican instruments)
1942 - Hovhaness “October Mountain” (known for isorhythm)
1949 - Paul Price @ U of Illinois. Insisted music be newly composed.

Question 4

1950s

Answer 4

1951 - Colgrass, “Three Brothers”
1954 -Colgrass, “Chamber Piece for Perc. Quintet”
1958 - Kraft, “Suite for Weatherkings” (jazz influence, brushes, Deagan song bells, ded. Remo Belli)
1955 - Wuorinen “Prelude & Fugue for 4 Perc”

Question 5

1960s

Answer 5

1960 - Harrison, “Fugue”
1962 - Wuorinen, “Invention for Perc 5tet”
1964 - Terry Riley “In C”
1969 - Wuorinen, “Ringing Changes”
1969 - Xenakis “Persephassa” (spaced around audience)
1969 - Udow “Understanding” (theatrical work)
1969 - ishii “Marimbastuck w/ 2perc”

Question 6

1970s

Answer 6

1971 - Reich, “Drumming” (R. Hartenberger; MOMA, NY)
1971 - Nexus Forms
1974 - Ptaszynska “Siderals” (sonorism, insp. Crumb. U. of Illinois)
1974 - Tenney “Three Pieces for Drum 4tet” (based off Ives/Cowell/Varese)
1974 - Gauger “Gainsborough” (insp. OU Percussion Press”
1976 - Wuorinen “Percussion Symphony”
1976 - Rouse “Ogoun Badagris”
1978 - Rouse “Ku Ka Ilimoku”
1978 - Pleiades (microtonal sixxen, Les percussions de Strasbourg)

Question 7

1980s

Answer 7

• 1981 - Takemitsu, Rain Tree
• 1983 - Gauger “Portico,” OU Percussion Press commissioning series. Richard Gipson
• 1986 - Helble “Diabolic Variations” (Kbds + timp)
• 1986 - Hannegin “Duo Chopinesque” (Chopin prelude E minor, atonality extreme dynamics)
•

Question 8

1990s

Answer 8

• 1991 - Maslanka “Crown of Thorns”
• 1994 - Gillingham “Stained Glass”
• 2001 - Ewazen “Palace of Nine Perfections”
• 1997 - Luther Adams “Strange and Sacred Noise”
• 2002 - Lang “So Called Laws of Nature”

Question 9

2000s+

Answer 9

• More blending of styles, influence of cultures (Koshinski, Lunsqui, Westlake, Akiho)
• More pedagogical pieces (Wilmarth, Ralph Hicks, etc)
• More publishing companies (Mostly Marimba, Tapspace, C Alan, Rowloff)
• More variation of transcriptions/adaptations (Xmas music, rock tunes, world music)
• Integration of electronics/technology (E. OHalloran,
• Saturation of publication