+ music + media + you . . . a tumblelog by Thad Anderson
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Me

Percussionist, composer, and artistic director of the Cage Percussion Players. I teach courses in percussion, music composition and technology at the University of Central Florida.

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June 2, 2011 @ 9:04 AM
Headed up to NYC in a couple of weeks for another performance of John Luther Adams’ INUKSUIT. Very glad that Kaylee Bonatakis (a recent UCF grad) and Matt Roberts (a soon-to-be UCF grad) will be taking part as well.

Headed up to NYC in a couple of weeks for another performance of John Luther Adams’ INUKSUIT. Very glad that Kaylee Bonatakis (a recent UCF grad) and Matt Roberts (a soon-to-be UCF grad) will be taking part as well.

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April 21, 2010 @ 11:26 AM

Vignette No. 1 is a unique “collage” recital which featured newly commissioned works for keyboard percussion instruments by Jonathan Kolm, Travis Jeffords, and Halim El-Dabh as well as some adaptations of music by J.S. Bach and John Cage and standards by Gordon Stout and Thom Hasenpflug.  The recital also highlighted some recent video and percussion collaborations that I have been involved in with Diana Reichenbach, Christopher Brannan, David Randag, and Ruwan Perera.

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March 5, 2010 @ 3:31 PM
The flyer for my recent recital series.  Vignette No. 2 to follow shortly…

The flyer for my recent recital series.  Vignette No. 2 to follow shortly…

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February 20, 2010 @ 9:40 PM

Really excited about the outcome of this collaboration.  Long story short, composer Travis Jeffords wrote me a solo for marimba, three woodblocks, and a resonant metal.  The piece is called Gearbox Transmission and essentially the blocks and metal represent “gears” for the marimba (shifting between various rhythmic values).  I recorded the audio in May of 2008 and videographer Ruwan Perera completed all of the visuals.  I’ll “premiere” the project as part of my upcoming recital series…

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December 14, 2009 @ 8:12 AM

I’m infatuated with George Crumb’s music.  I was lucky enough to get a chance to work with him at the University of Texas in the fall of 2004 (my first semester as an MM student).  I saw him coach a colleague performing his Sonata for Solo Cello (on cello) and instantly knew that I wanted to attempt this on marimba.  I ended up programming all three movements on one of my graduate recitals and have performed it often ever since.  This original taping of this first movement is from the spring of 2007 (I think…).

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September 3, 2009 @ 8:45 PM

Brief documentary from The New Yorker about John Luther Adams’ new work for Percussion Ensemble called INUKSUIT (premiered summer 2009)

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August 8, 2009 @ 8:50 AM
Harrison’s tin can set — again, most likely used for premier performances of Third Construction and Imaginary Landscape No. 2 (a.k.a. Fourth Construction at the premier…).  See the audio clip below.

Harrison’s tin can set — again, most likely used for premier performances of Third Construction and Imaginary Landscape No. 2 (a.k.a. Fourth Construction at the premier…).  See the audio clip below.

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August 8, 2009 @ 8:48 AM
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

This is clip of one of Lou Harrison’s sets of tin cans most likely used for premier performances of Third Construction and Imaginary Landscape No. 2 (a.k.a. Fourth Construction at the premier…).  See the photo above.

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August 2, 2009 @ 2:51 PM
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

This is the first part of a new composition/recording project I am doing in collaboration with Diana Reichenbach.  Diana is an amazing animatic/graphic artist in L.A. and this new collaboration is set to be staged in a dome at some point in 2010.  Stay tuned for more details on that.

Let me know what you think about this first part.  More to come as I continue working…

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July 31, 2009 @ 8:56 AM
Here is the photo of Harrison’s sistrum.  It’s a bit smaller than similar instruments I have seen (only about 8” long) but sounds great.

Here is the photo of Harrison’s sistrum.  It’s a bit smaller than similar instruments I have seen (only about 8” long) but sounds great.

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July 31, 2009 @ 8:52 AM
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Here is a clip of another historically important percussion instrument that Lou Harrison often used.  This is one of his sistrums that is most well known for its use in Double Music (a joint work composed by both Harrison and John Cage).  Take a look at the picture posted above.

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July 30, 2009 @ 9:46 AM
Spun-steel brake drum from the Lou Harrison Percussion Instrument Collection @ Mills College (check out the audio clip below…)

Spun-steel brake drum from the Lou Harrison Percussion Instrument Collection @ Mills College (check out the audio clip below…)

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July 30, 2009 @ 9:44 AM
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This is a clip of an old spun-steel brake drum.  The part is likely from a Ford Model-A of the late 1920’s.  I own a set that are shaped and sound exactly like this one.  As I tweeted earlier, this is the Stradivarius of found instruments!

Listen to the length of the decay (I actually mute the drum towards the end of the clip).  Very different from the modern brake drums we are used to playing/hearing…

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July 29, 2009 @ 9:25 AM
www.travisjeffords.com

Be sure to check out Travis’ website!

Tags: link composer
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July 29, 2009 @ 9:21 AM
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Here is another clip from my recording session back in May.  This is Travis Jefford’s Gearbox Transmission for marimba, three woodblocks, and a metal object.  It’s a tough work but it comes off nicely.  Again, audiences really enjoyed it during my recent tour.

Travis and a friend created a video to accompany the piece.  It turned out great and I hope to put both on my forthcoming CD.

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