From the Battlefield to the Stage A brief history of the Orchestra's Percussion Section
Arizona Philharmonic seeks to feature different sections of our orchestra in up-close concerts. The percussion section, featured in our Wood, Water, and Wolfgang concert on February 5, is perhaps the most exotic orchestral section, with a history that spans millennia.
In all five of the major original civilizations of 5000 years ago, there is archeological evidence of hand drums and small cymbals. Cymbals were made of bronze and other metal alloys being discovered during that age. Eventually the frame drum and small cymbals were combined to make the tambourine. With the Silk Road came far-reaching trade, and communities could share their distinct variations of these instruments. Drums evolved to a variety of shapes and sizes. The father of the snare drum was invented when rope was stretched across one of the drum heads, and other instruments of metal and skin emerged.
Fast forward to the Ottoman Empire, who were militarily brilliant. They developed new armaments, strategies on troop movement, and (this is the interesting part) the ability to manipulate their opponent's emotions. When the Ottomans came into battle, they carried with them a large battery of percussion instruments. Snare drums, were loud and crisp enough to project clear rhythms across the field. To help with marching, individuals carried on their back bass drums with two heads, one side played with a stick, and another played with twigs. The cymbals were increased from finger-cymbal sizes to large 16 inch plates. And horses carried on either side of them giant copper drums covered with skin, so that that their thunder could be carried to the battle.
Imagine, during the Later Crusades, some poor peasant originally from a small French village transferred to the battlefield somewhere in what is now Turkey. On the day of the battle, when he wakes up, he hears an enormous wall of sound emanating from the enemy's position. Maybe the loudest sounds the peasant had previously heard were horse hoofs or a blacksmith. And now this wall of petrifying and disorienting sound is coming at him. How intimidating that must have been! The Ottomans' military band, who was at the forefront of developing martial music, eventually captured the attention of Europe's armies.
Jump forward another few hundred years, and the Turkish military band has become a widely respected ensemble showing up across Europe. By the late 1700s and early 1800s, not only were the percussion instruments integrated into other countries' military bands, classical composers such as Mozart, Gluck, Haydn, and Beethoven started incorporating bass drum, cymbals, and triangles into their works. This "Turkish band" section initially was used only to imitate Turkish military music, and it was considered distinct from the timpani's already well-established role in the orchestra. However, it only took a couple decades for composers to begin using the colors of the "new" percussion for their own creative purposes.
By the twentieth century, the percussion section had settled into a standard selection of instruments: bass drum, cymbals, triangle, snare drum, and tambourine. And its use has expanded greatly beyond the brash military sound of the original Ottoman Empire's wall of sound. From the Romantic music period onward, both the gentlest and boldest of gestures would be created within the percussion section.
Of course, you'll see much more than the "Turkish Band" on the manos percussion concert, Wood, Water, and Wolfgang, on Sunday February 5, 3pm at Yavapai College Performing Arts Center. We include melodic instruments (such as the marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, and handbells), drums (including timpani, bass drums, snare drums, and tom-toms), ethereal and exotic instruments involving water and bass bows (you know, the bows that the orchestra's contrabass players use!), and a few more surprises.
Come and join us for a treat both for your ears and your eyes.
- Maria Flurry, Principal Timpanist, Arizona Philharmonic
Nagoya Marimbas, by Steve Reich
The manos percussion concert features an eclectic and very enjoyable mixture of musical styles. You'll hear Vivaldi, Mozart, Satie, and Chick Corea, plus styles as varied as ragtime to Mexican traditional.
One popular style invented in the 20th century is minimalism, which is characterized by slow changes in repeated patterns. When I listen to minimalism, it is not so much the tug of tension and release that captures my attention, but rather the gentle evolution of the music. Where one ends in the piece can be very different than where one began, yet each of the steps to cross that distance were small. To me, that is both fascinating and relaxing, like a gentle guided meditation that leads you to a different state of mind.
Homero Cerón and Eddie Solomon will be performing Nagoya Marimbas, by the well-known minimalist composer Steve Reich. As you listen to this preview, listen carefully how the second marimba slowly adds to the first marimba's pattern, initiating an expansion in complexity, excitement, and range (high and low notes). Eventually, the energy and complexity diminishes, only to rise once more to a fun climax. As in a mediation, be mindful of where you started, so that the slow path of the music can be measured and enjoyed.
Eddie Solomon is the Principal Percussionist of the Arizona Philharmonic. He has performed as a percussionist with the Arkansas Symphony and the Midland-Odessa Symphony. Eddie has additionally attended the Hot Springs Music Festival and the Zeltsman Marimba Festival.
Eddie comes to the AZ Phil as a native Texan where he has lived in the Houston area for most of his life. He attended the University of Houston for his Undergraduate studies and went on to receive a Masters in Orchestral Studies from Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL. Eddie's teachers have included Matt Strauss, Blake Taylor, Vadim Karpinos, Ed Harrison, and Dr. Blake Wilkins.
The Elks Performing Arts Center and Arizona Philharmonic are cross promoting concerts we think would be enjoyable to you.
Here's a fun one! Electric Harp Guitar Group combines individual virtuosity with ensemble sensibility to create instrumental compositions, drawn from transcendental world, jazz, rock and new age genres. For this concert the trio will explore new boundaries, including vocals and driving rhythmic textures, to bring out new lyric expressions and new sonic qualities from their long scale solid body electric instruments.
Friday, February 17 @ 7 PM, Crystal Hall, Third Floor, 117 E. Gurley St.
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Art 4 All™
Art 4 All is a fundamental component of Arizona Philharmonic’s efforts to bring professional orchestra music to all interested members of the community.
In our Art 4 All program, AZ Phil offers donate-what-you-can audience opportunities to anybody in the community who otherwise could not afford a ticket.
If purchasing tickets for a concert does not fit into your or a friend’s budget, you may sign up for Art 4 All coupons at AZPhil.org/art4all.
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
Excellence in Arts and Culture Award 2021
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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In all five of the major original civilizations of 5000 years ago, there is 
Fast forward to the Ottoman Empire, 
Imagine, during the Later Crusades, some poor peasant originally from a 
Jump forward another few hundred years, and the Turkish military band has become a 
By the twentieth century, the percussion section had settled into a 
Of course, you'll see much more than the "Turkish Band" on the 
Homero Cerón and Eddie Solomon will be performing Nagoya Marimbas, by the well-known minimalist composer Steve Reich. As you listen to 
Eddie Solomon is the 
