You might be familiar with C.S.Lewis’s Narnia Chronicles; you might indeed be sufficiently conversant with them to know the plot of the final book, The Last Battle. While I don’t find myself sympathising with its teleological* narrative, it is nonetheless … Continue reading
Turkish football has a certain reputation amongst English football fans. If your team is fortunate enough to be playing in European football, there’s always a certain frisson when you hear that your team has been drawn against the three legendary … Continue reading
Calm… calm… Naked man. Soaking man. Dog bowl. Peştemal. Ortan. I think that probably brings you up to date with parts one and two. Any questions? Ortan stirred me from my dog-bowl supported meditation. As discreet as a Turkish Jeeves, … Continue reading
(For obvious reasons, all photos in this blog are taken from the internet; I didn’t take my camera in with me…) You left me, dear reader, clad in a peştemal and trying to suck my stomach in whilst essaying a … Continue reading
Every middle aged man is required to be self-confident, bullish and able to deal with a variety of situations in a phlegmatic and self-assured manner. Few circumstances are permitted to penetrate that veneer of worldly wisdom and boundless self-assurance. With … Continue reading
Wonder violinist Steve Bingham and I recorded Phil Toms’ piece ‘Vibes and violin’. Written, recorded and filmed in a day. Rather silly, no? … Continue reading
Steve Reich & homogenous groupings As a demonstration of instrument families, it’s hard to better the writing of Steve Reich as an exemplar. Here are a few examples of Steve Reich’s composing, which until about 1973 was almost entirely based around … Continue reading
Percussion instruments by grouping A great many successful percussion pieces and orchestrations work because the composer has thought about the instruments that can work well together. Treating the percussion department as a toy box to be dipped into with all … Continue reading
Timpani – what they are, what they do Timpani – or kettledrums (the same thing, just a more old-fashioned name) – have been largely ever-present in the orchestra from the early 18th century onwards. Originally being found in pairs and … Continue reading
Sound & Noise (or, I’ve got 99 Problems, but pitch ain’t one) This is the first part of a 6 part course designed to help with the unique issues of writing for percussion. Each session will concentrate on a different … Continue reading