"WOW!!
I’ve finally gotten through my first run through Royal’s
book and watched the whole DVD. If there is a Dali Lama among drummers,
Murray found him in Royal Hartigan. What a peaceful presence at the
kit! His materials and system are very helpful to anyone wanting
to improve their 4 limb intuition on the drum set. Tapspace has done
an awesome job at packaging this method too. It is a steal at $40!
Royal
seems to be a true nexus to other drum cultures and philosophies.
Thank you for making his work available to the rest of us."
Steve
Fitch
percussionist/assistant principal timpanist/
drum set performer
The Phoenix Symphony
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When I started developing my drum set/percussion
parts and percussion sound effects for Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo,
I wanted to add some marching/field percussion sounds to the mix.
After diving into Virtual
Drumline 2 and hearing its marching percussion and other percussion
samples, I knew I had found exactly what I was looking for to add
to the show. In Corteo, I trigger VDL:2 instruments
in live performance using an electronic percussion pad/controller
via MIDI into a computer running sampling software.
I also use VDL:2 with my notation software for all my percussion arrangements
and compositions. It gives me a true perspective of what my music will
sound like played live and also helps sell my product to band directors/organizations
who want to get a ‘taste’ of the real thing and not cheesy
General Midi sounds. So whether it is in live performance or composing,
Virtual Drumline 2 is definitely the best marching percussion library
available.
Christopher "Kit"
Chatham
Percussionist/Drummer for Cirque du Soleil's Corteo
Chief Show Designer, Head of Performance/Artistic Director
Odyssey Percussion Theatre
www.kitchatham.com |
"I know that it's been said at 1000 times, but I really consider
the work that you all have done with Virtual
Drumline to be revolutionary! Thanks again for such an incredible
suite of sounds!"
Andrew Anderson
Sumter HS, Sumter, South Carolina
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"VDL is the ultimate marching and concert percussion
sample library! With the built in Kontakt Player interface,
I have an instantaneous world class percussion ensemble at
my fingertips!"
Key Poulan
composer/arranger
www.keypoulan.com |
"I just wanted to send you a note to tell you that late this summer
I purchased a copy of Up Front and
was extremely impressed with it. The book is very insightful. It is useful
for everyone from the band director who knows nothing about the pit to
someone who has taught for many years. One of my favorite parts is the “Quick
Guide for the Volunteer Pit Crew”. That is brilliant! I have seen
too many band dads throw the bells on the marimba and drag the timpani
by the collar for my taste.
Again, congratulations on a comprehensive, often humorous and informative book
on the front ensemble. Bravo!"
Kirk J. Gay
University of Central Florida
Instructor of Music
Steel Band & Marching Percussion Director
"If you are interested in learning about the best thing goin' in drum corps
today, you'll definitely want to buy Fresh Perspectives! The exercises are great
for building a solid technical foundation while challenging the brain, and the
musical excerpts will show you exactly how the charts are written for SCV. The
approach is a musical balance of mental and physical chops, and Jim and Murray
demonstrate this perfectly. This is a very in-depth look into a program I am
very close to."
Ralph Hardimon
International Percussion Artist for Vic Firth Inc., Sabian Inc.
DCI Hall of Fame member
"As a student and practitioner of the world music cultures of Asia, Africa,
the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas, I find Fresh Perspectives a challenging
and stimulating work for percussion ensemble. Each group of pieces has a detailed
explanation giving the background, practice strategy, and stylistic feel to assist
the player in performance. I find the individual parts as well as the full ensemble
to have rhythmic ideas which can be adapted to contemporary composition and performance
in many musical traditions - European Art music, African American Jazz, experimental
music, funk, and popular styles. I highly recommend Fresh Perspectives as a rhythmic
resource for percussionists, composers, and anyone moved by creative drum sounds."
Royal Hartigan
World Percussionist/Professor of Improvised Music Studies
San Jose State University; San Jose, CA
Author of West African Rhythms for Drum Set published by Manhattan
Music Publications
http://www.royalhart.com
"Jim Casella and Murray Gusseck have definitely come up a "fresh" approach
to the modern drumline in their new book, "Fresh Perspectives." The exercises
are exciting and well thought out."
Anthony J. Cirone
Former Percussionist, San Francisco Symphony
Retired Professor, Indiana University, San Jose State University
"I highly reccommend this book ("Fresh Perspectives") to all college instructors
and all high school programs. If you have ever wondered how the experts do it,
Fresh Perspectives has all the answers. This text serves as a tool in assisting
both the fall and winter marching programs. It is written well and is easy to
understand."
Lalo Davila
Associate Professor of Music
Director of Percussion
Middle Tennessee State University
"Fresh Perspectives" is titled perfectly.
Jim and Murray's compositional styles have managed to influence almost every
serious marching percussion ensemble on the planet.
Together, they've combined to create one of the most unique musical sounds
from battery percussion ever. The result is pure music, the highest compliment
I could possibly pay."
Scotty Sells
Former Program Coordinator
Carolina Thunder Percussion Ensemble, Charlotte NC
"Fresh Perspectives" is the SCV way, which is about balance. Balance of the
mental and physical chops. It demonstrates how to apply rudiments in a musical
way. There is something for everyone, if you're a first time instructor , someone
looking to upgrade their composition skills, or a band director who wants some
concepts to make his percussion section more musical."
Glen Crosby
Percussion Educator/Performer - Los Angeles, CA
"The Devil's Dance" from L'Histoire du Soldat by Igor Stravinsky is arranged
by James Ancona for two marimbas, two vibes, xylophone, bells, five timpani,
snare drum, field drum, tambourine, and bass drum. This one-minute nineteen-second
arrangement follws the Stravinsky score quite well, except it has been moved
up a major second so that it fits on a 4 1/3 octave marimba. Four mallets are
needed for the marimbas, two mallets for all the other mallet-keyboard instruments.
Since the timpani part is capturing the string bass part from the original, there
are many pedal changes. All parts are challenging at the suggested tempo of quarter
note = 144. Unison lines and double stops have to be executed with technical
precision, and hard mallets on all instruments are required. This is an excellent
arrangement. The instruction page is clear and helpful.
-John Beck
for Percussive Notes magazine
"The rhythmic sophistication is more like Zappa's "The Black Page" than any
standard warm-up. But it reflects the continuing trend toward musical sensitivity
in a medium that for too long has been unfairly associated with the label of
mere regimentation. Those days are long gone, and "Mr. Adamson's Monkey" proves
it.
-Tom Morgan
Contributing reviewer for Percussive Notes magazine
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