Les Percussions de Strasbourg - Luis Tabuenca: Naturstudium Iii - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Paul Klee's Naturstudium (1923) recalibrated the dialogue between art-making and the natural world. By peering closely at nature, Klee's project was one of a magical de-mystification, seemingly a contradiction in terms until you realize that by looking clearly and dispassionately (the studium part of Naturstudium), he brought us full circle to wonder and awe. Spanish percussionist Luis Tabuenca also peers inward at his world-here the universe of percussion sounds-inviting us to a microscopic listening experience of the grain and texture of percussive timbre. Using no electronics other than simple amplification we hear, in super close-up, the sounds of bowed percussion instruments, of drops of water falling on a drum set, of the shifting harmonics of a cymbal as it is amplified by the bass drum upon which it rests. This radical change of scale perplexes the ear at first. How could a sound as soft as a simple drop of water be so full and dramatic? How could it demand so much acoustical and psychic space? But we quickly accommodate the dislocation of perspective and resize ourselves as participants in a Lilliputian sound world. Soon we find ourselves as ant-sized listeners in a teeming rain forest of sounds. One of the loveliest contradictions of perspectives in Tabuenca's recording is that, in spite of an acoustic recording aimed at capturing the finest nuances of sonic texture, we still hear Luis Tabuenca, a full-sized person and expert percussionist. His lithe movements always radiate from a musically and sonically exacting practice. He excels at creating a equilibrium between the power of the percussive stroke and the cultivation of that power as refined musical gesture and on-stage charisma. It is in just this balance of a raw sonic core with an elegant on-stage presence that he mirrors Klee's refined observations of the untamable powers of the natural world. All ar

Multiple Grammy-winning Third Coast Percussion (TCP), praised by NPR for championing Inchborderless musicInch and Inchblurring musical boundaries, Inch celebrates it's 20th anniversary in 2025 with Standard Stoppages, an album inspired by pioneering conceptual artist Marcel Duchamp's idea of twisting standardized units, with works that redefine rhythmic structures and sonic possibilities.Reflecting on two decades-or a InchscoreInch-of music-making, the anniversary gives TCP the space to reflect on their many milestones, collaborations, and steps along the journey that have shaped their work over the years, inspiring the group to commission new works for the occasion. This diverse set of commissions makes for a colorful sonic palette of percussive ensemble works, ranging from Zakir Hussain's traditional Hindustani influence to Musekiwa Chingodza's Zimbabwean song to Jessie Montgomery's western contemporary approach.This project brings together both new and past collaborators; with commissioned works from Jlin and Zakir Hussain, alongside fresh contributions from Jessie Montgomery and Tigran Hamasyan.The late Zakir Hussain and the rich Hindustani and tabla traditions were strong sources of inspiration for Third Coast Percussion, most notably through the commissioned work Murmurs in Time. His unexpected passing between the album's recording and moved TCP to dedicate this project to his memory and enduring legacy. Drawing from Duchamp's Three Standard Stoppages, TCP's 7th recording for Cedille Records invites reflection on the varying paths that lead to unique creative expressions, both for themselves and their collaborators.Standard Stoppages was produced and engineered by Judith Sherman, Colin Campbell, and Bill Maylone. Tracks 1-4 and 7-10 were recorded November 4-8, 2024, and tracks 5-6 October 1-2, 2024, at Narwhal Studios, Chicago, IL; Track 11 was recorded Novemb

Percussion Today is intended to provide an insight into the broad spectrum of contemporary percussion composition and performance. Hochschul-Percussion Trossingen / Hermann Gschwendtner conductor. Album Tracks 1. Regner, Hermann Changing Patterns FÜR 8 Congas 2. Brouwer, Leo Variantes FÜR Einen Schlagzeuger 3. Henze, Hans Werner Five Scenes from the Snow Country for Marimba Solo 4. Heider, Werner Galerie FÜR Schlagzeug-Quartett I-XII 5. Hiller, Wilfried Katalog IV FÜR Schlagzeug