Long Roll: A Tribute to Composer-Percussionist Michael Manion
Gregory Beyer & University of Illinois Percussion Ensemble, William Moersch, Mark Eichenberger, Adam Walton, conductors
This tribute to the American composer-percussionist Michael Manion (1952-2012) captures a live 2009 concert held in his honor at the University of Illinois. Presented by the University of Illinois Percussion Ensemble–conducted by its director, William Moersch, and student conductors Adam Walton and Mark Eichenberger—the concert also featured the premiere of Stephen Lett’s Junta–and of Robert Fleisher’s Maniondala, originally composed for Michael Manion.
This broad spectrum of music written between 1927 and 2009 includes some of the earliest percussion ensemble compositions—by Alexander Tcherepnin, Amadeo Roldán, Henry Cowell, Dmitri Shostakovich, and John Cage & Lou Harrison. Three 21st-century works receiving their first commercially-released recordings here include Fleisher’s Maniondala (for solo malletKAT), Stephen Lett’s Junta (for three percussionists), and Michael Manion’s Long Roll II (for percussion quartet).
The University of Illinois Percussion Ensemble was established in 1950 and specializes in the performance of traditional and contemporary repertoire for small and large groups. Soloist Gregory Beyer is a Fulbright Scholar, composer, educator, and “prodigiously talented percussionist” (Chicago Classical Review).
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Track Listing
| Title | Composer | Performer |
|---|---|---|
| Symphony No. 1 in E Major, II (1927) | Alexander Tcherepnin | University of Illinois Percussion Ensemble; William Moersch, conductor |
| Ritmica No. 5 (1930) | Amadeo Roldán | University of Illinois Percussion Ensemble; William Moersch, conductor |
| Ritmica No. 6 (1930) | Amadeo Roldán | University of Illinois Percussion Ensemble; William Moersch, conductor |
| Junta (2009) | Stephen Lett | University of Illinois Percussion Ensemble; Adam Walton, conductor |
| Ostinato Pianissimo (1934) | Henry Cowell | University of Illinois Percussion Ensemble; William Moersch, conductor |
| The Nose, Entr’acte (1928) | Dmitri Shostakovich | University of Illinois Percussion Ensemble; William Moersch, conductor |
| Double Music (1941) | John Cage & Lou Harrison s | University of Illinois Percussion Ensemble; William Moersch, conductor |
| Long Roll II (2006) | Michael Manion | University of Illinois Percussion Ensemble; Mark Eichenberger, conductor |
| Maniondala (2009) | Robert Fleisher | Gregory Beyer, malletKAT |
Reviews
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“ . . . The featured title work, Long Roll II (2006) written by Michael Manion for percussion quartet, is a unique exploration of various layers, styles, velocities, and dynamics of percussion rolls. Learning to roll is one of most significant parts of the percussionists’ technique, and is needed to create a quasi-sustained sound. . . . The University of Illinois Percussion Ensemble is an outstanding instrumental group that performs with superb control, musicality, ensemble precision, and a variety of color. Congratulations to their director William Moersch who has selected literature of both historical and lasting artistic value.”
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“William Moersch and the University of Illinois Percussion Ensemble present this new album that combines some of the early works in the percussion ensemble repertoire with three 21st-century pieces. . . . The highlight, however, is Gregory Beyer’s performance of Robert Fleisher’s ‘Maniondala’ for solo malletKAT. It is a combination of prerecorded performances from different Fleisher works and seeral battery sounds from the malletKAT. Much of what the soloist plays relates to the other new works on the album, either through motivic material or the soundscape. This makes it an appropriate ending to an impressive percussion release.”
*Album cover provided for Editorial use only. ©Albany Records. The Albany Imprint is a registered trademark of PARMA Recordings LLC. The views and opinions expressed in this media are those of the artist and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions held by PARMA Recordings LLC and its label imprints, subsidiaries, and affiliates.