If you haven't noticed, Prescott is big on choral music. Yavapai College has a number of choral groups: Master Chorale, Community Chorale, Chamber Singers,Women's Chorale, and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Within the community, we have Prescott Chorale, Camerata Singers, Una Voce Women's Choir, and the Yavapai Youth Choirs - both of which were featured on our Nutcracker Celebration concert. (I'm sure I'm missing some.) Count the barbershop groups, church choirs, informal get-togethers, and the professional chorus Quartz Ensemble that annually sings with AZ Phil... that's quite a choral cornucopia!
Given that melodic percussion is a relatively new entry into the western classical music tradition, it is very common for percussionists to play transcriptions of other works originally written for other instruments. For example, AZ Phil's timpanist Maria Flurry, who planned and organized the February 5 manos percussion concert, has in her marimba repertoire several pieces originally written for solo lute by J. S. Bach.
What is less common is transcribing to percussion anything choral related. Yet, for this concert, Maria did exactly that. Here's the back story as told by Maria:
When I transcribe, I try to capture the character and feel of the original music through percussion instruments. I also am very much aware of the rich palette of musical colors that percussion can add to a composition.
This past fall, I performed timpani on Master Chorale's presentation of Mozart's Missa in C Major K. 317. The words of the Agnus Dei, in which we seek peace for all of us from the Lamb of God, have always always spoken to me. Emily Spencer sang the Agnus Dei solo with so much heart and gentle crafting of the phrases that I began to hear her clear voice paired with the mellow metal bars of the vibraphone. To my ears, this would be a natural fit, for a vibraphone's tone is clear and close to pure.
Since I was preparing for the upcoming concert, I was inspired to invite Emily, Dr. Joshua Harper, and select area singers to join us on stage for a new transcription of the Agnus Dei. With their enthusiastic acceptance, I embarked on tailoring the work for manos percussion.
The arrangement opens with two vibraphones offering a delicate background to support Emily's beautiful phrasing. As the work progresses, I add gentle spice with suspended hand bells played with mallets, something I believe Mozart would have enjoyed. In the Andante con moto section, the choir enters and is supported by both vibraphones, two marimbas, and glockenspiel (the little sister to the vibraphone). In the final Allegro con spirito, the timpani are added for an intentional and robust search for peace. You can listen to Mozart's original version of the work below.
The February 5 performance of this transcription is a premiere, and I am grateful to all of the participants who will bring this music to fruition. With humility, please accept my invitation to join in this experience.
- Maria Flurry, manos percussion & Arizona Philharmonic Principal Timpanist
Agnus Dei, from Mass in C Major, K. 317
by Amadeus Mozart
Berliner Philharmoniker, James Levine
Sylvia McNair, soprano
RIAS Kammerchor
Frederick (Fred) Morgan is second percussionist of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and principal timpanist of the Duluth Superior Symphony. He also is performing with the Detroit Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic.
Fred received his bachelor’s degree in percussion performance under the study of Jack Van Geem at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and received his master’s degree at the New England Conservatory under the tutelage of Will Hudgins. After the completion of his graduate study he returned to his hometown of San Francisco to study timpani performance further with current Chicago Symphony timpanist David Herbert. His other instructors include James Lee Wyatt, Andrew Lewis, and jazz drummer Alan Hall.
In 2003, Fred won the first prize in the Oakland Symphony’s Young Artist Competition, and as winner performed William Kraft’s Timpani Concerto with the orchestra. He was also a member of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra from 1997-2002. In addition, Fred has participated in numerous music festivals throughout the world, including Spoleto USA, Aspen, Schleswig-Holstein, timpanist with the National Repertory Orchestra, Jeunesses Musicales, Midsummer Mozart, and Bear Valley.
As a San Francisco native, Fred spends most of his time between Tucson and San Francisco. During the summer months he currently performs with West Edge Opera in the East Bay.
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Currently we are offering coupons for manos percussion, performing Sunday, February 5, 3 PM at Yavapai College Performing Arts Center.
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Arizona Philharmonic (AZ Phil) is celebrating its fifth season in Prescott in 2022-2023 as Prescott's regional professional orchestra, presenting large and small concerts that engage and inspire listeners. Based in Prescott, AZ Phil draws musicians from across Arizona and is committed to offering transformative music, while nurturing community participation and supporting the needs and growth of the Prescott area performing arts scene. Recognized in 2021 by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce for Excellence in Arts and Culture, Arizona Philharmonic is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Ticket information, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities can be found at AZPhil.org or on Facebook.
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If you haven't noticed, 
Given that 
This past fall, I performed timpani on Master Chorale's presentation of Mozart's Missa in C Major K. 317. The words of the Agnus Dei, in which 
Since I was preparing for the upcoming concert,
Frederick (Fred) Morgan is second percussionist of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and principal timpanist of the Duluth Superior Symphony. He also is performing with the Detroit Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic.
In 2003, Fred won the first prize in the Oakland Symphony’s Young Artist Competition, and as winner performed William Kraft’s Timpani Concerto with the orchestra. He was also a member of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra from 1997-2002. In addition, Fred has participated in numerous music festivals throughout the world, including Spoleto USA, Aspen, Schleswig-Holstein, timpanist with the National Repertory Orchestra, Jeunesses Musicales, Midsummer Mozart, and Bear Valley.
