Identification of percussion performance techniques in the standard orchestral percussion repertoire /

Abstract

Chapters III through IX provided a brief discussion of the various orchestral percussion instruments' history and physical characteristics as well as a summary of their basic performance techniques. Various passages from the Standard Orchestral Percussion Repertoire were examined. Possible methods for executing these passages, along with personal interpretations by selected professional orchestral percussionists were provided.

The identification of the standard orchestral percussion repertoire would be particularly useful to the percussionist desirous of pursuing an orchestral career. Also, the identification of specific percussion performance problems contained in the standard repertoire may aid in their proper interpretation and execution.

The purposes of this study were to identify, through a systematic survey, the orchestral literature that constitutes the the nucleus of the percussion repertoire as determined by the collected audition lists of the major North American symphony orchestras; to identify specific percussion performance techniques necessary for the performance of the standard repertoire; and to include an anthology of the standard orchestral percussion repertoire.

In Chapter II, the procedure for conducting the survey of thirty-four major North American symphony orchestras was outlined with the tabulated results of the twenty-seven orchestras responding to the survey included. The individual audition-repertoire lists were presented in Appendix I while Appendix II provided a complete categorized listing of the individual audition lists cross-indexed by instrument, composer, title, and orchestra. Appendix III included the complete published percussion parts to the Standard Orchestral Percussion Repertoire.

The Standard Orchestral Percussion Repertoire was identified as those compositions appearing on five or more of the twenty-seven audition-repertoire lists received. In general, the appearance of specific compositions may be attributed to one or more of the following: (1) their solo-like status for a percussion instrument; (2) the fact that they contain passages for percussion instruments that are technically and/or musically difficult; (3) they are frequently performed.