| |
Info...
Authors ... Buzz
... Support ...
School Orders ... Terms
& Conditions ... Contact
|
Tapspace
is honored to be making an impact on today's finest
percussionists. We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality,
imaginative products to our customers. If you have been
affected by what we offer, we'd
like to hear from you! |
 |
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 2 to be revolutionary! Thanks again for
such an incredible suite of sounds!"
Andrew
Anderson
Sumter HS, Sumter, South Carolina |
|
 |
"VDL:2
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
Percussion Department Chairman/Professor, Indiana 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 |
| |
|
|
