Feminine Fusion

S06 Ep08: Marching to a Different Drum, Part 2

by Diane Jones

October 23, 2021

Percussionist Evelyn Glennie

“The thing about playing percussion is that you can create all these emotions that can be sometimes beautiful, sometimes really ugly, or sometimes sweet, sometimes as big as King Kong.”   – Evelyn Glennie

A singer always has their instrument with them.  A cellist, a flutist, they carry a bit more – one, or perhaps several, instruments, music, music stand, and accessories like rosin, or cleaning cloths.  But a percussionist – well, let’s just say, most of them drive a van.  Drums, sticks, shakers, woodblocks, marimbas, vibraphones, stands for their music and all of their instruments.  Not to mention the unusual instruments they are asked to play – water gongs, rainsticks, flower pots, brake drums, sticks and stones.  The women on today’s program have had to master them all.

Marching to a Different Drum, Part 2

Susie Ibarra:  Paniniwala (Belief)
Susie Ibarra, percussion
Alex Peh, piano
“Talking Gong”
New Focus Recordings 271

Stefan Knuijt:  Sketches on a Theme from Bartok’s Mikrokosmos
Cora Dellebeke, percussion
Stefan Knuijt, bass tuba
“Another Koek”
Zefir 9684

Nancy van de Vate:  Suite for Marimba
Jane Boxall, marimba
“Chamber Music, Vol. IX”
Vienna Modern Masters 2055

Matthew Rosenblum:  Northern Flicker
Lisa Pegher, percussion
“Lament/Witches’ Sabbath”
New Focus Recordings 219

Joan Tower:  Strike Zones
Evelyn Glennie, percussion
“Joan Tower: Strike Zones”
Naxos 8559902

Run time:  58:29

Feminine Fusion highlights the roles of women in classical music. Host Diane Jones brings you stories and music of the women who create, perform, and inspire. Produced in the studios at WCNY-FM.