Have You Ever Seen The Grand Canyon?
General Info
Year: 2013
Instrumentation
Player 1: Glockenspiel
Player 2: Crotales & Suspended Cymbal
Player 3: Vibraphone 1
Player 4: Vibraphone 2 & Suspended Cymbal
Player 5: Vibraphone 3
Player 6: Marimba 1 & China Cymbal
Player 7: Marimba 2
Player 8: Marimba 3 & Suspended Cymbal
Player 9: Marimba 4 & Suspended Cymbal
Player 10: Timpani & Triangle
Player 11: Chimes &Triangle
Player 12: Ride Cymbal & Triangle & Bass Drum
Program Notes
We live in an amazing world where at the push of a button we can listen to almost any music that we desire. While this level of technology allows for a great amount of convenience, it also allows for a staggering level of complacency. Maynard James Keenan from the band Tool put this issue best when asked by an interviewer about why Tool has never put out a DVD of them performing live. Maynard asks the interviewer “Have you seen pictures of the Grand Canyon?” to which the interviewer nods affirmative. “It’s not the same. When you sit at the edge of the Grand Canyon, then you understand why it’s important to go to the Grand Canyon.”
I have had the pleasure of knowing John Parks for many years. During our first encounter he made reference to the band Tool, and somehow this reference has stuck with me ever since. Upon him asking for a piece from me, I knew that somehow the band Tool had to be involved in some way. This interview and message fit perfectly for a work for his incredible ensemble at Florida State.
This concept of experiencing live performances (not just in music, but in all the arts) also translates to life in general. While technology makes our world smaller and smaller every day, it also provides numerous distractions from the experiences happening right in front of us. This lesson is sometimes difficult to learn, and unfortunately on occasion a harsh reminder of this lesson is brought to the front. Both John and I, along with many of our mutual friends experienced one of these harsh reminders with the sudden loss of our friend Dr. Brandon Wood in October of 2012. This piece is dedicated to his memory, and the hope that we all will experience life while we can.
Recent Performance
<embedvideo service="youtube"> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OEP-sNZ72Y </embedvideo>
Works for Percussion by this Composer
Solo
Five Miniatures (Book 1) - Glockenspiel
Iris - Snare Drum & Digital Playback
Itself - Timpani
Lament for Paper and Pen - Multi-Percussion
Thief - Marimba & Tuned Metal Pipes
Points for Consistency - Multi-Percussion
Solo with Ensemble
Numerology - Marimba & Percussion Trio
...folded... - Marimba & Percussion Quartet
Downcycle - Marimba & Percussion Trio
Bullet Hell - Vibraphone & Percussion Quartet
Mason's Voyage - Vibraphone & Percussion Septet
Coin - Multiple Percussion & Mallet Ensemble
Ensemble
Parallel - Percussion Quartet
Vigenettes - Percussion Quintet
Sharps - Percussion Sextet
Convex - Percussion Septet
Have You Ever Seen The Grand Canyon? - 12 Players
Door County Summers - 14 Players
Indeterminate Instrumentation
Bakken Overture
Skeleton Key
The Floor Is Lava
Vince