Thanks and Acknowledgements BRODIE McCASH MASTERS RECITAL 1

I’d like to list a few people to whom I would not be standing hre
today without the support and help from. (chronologically)

Fiona McCash

James McCash

Luthais McCash

Paul Judge

Peter Ney

Dr Lisa Nicol

Professor Paul Mealor

Derek Ogston
KINGS COLLEGE CHAPEL
Margaret Carlaw

Michelle Jamieson FRIDAY 8TH MARCH

3.30 PM

Programme

Tajin – James Campbell
Blues for Gilbert – Mark Glentworth
Voices of Matsuri Drums – Keiko Abe
Nocturn No.20 in C# Minor – Chopin arr. McCash
About the performer
Brodie is currently studying his Masters of Music degree focussing
on Composition and Percussion Performance. After completing his
undergraduate studies at the University of Aberdeen in May 2018,
Brodie decided to continue his studies under composition tutor
Professor Paul Mealor and performance tutor Dr Lisa Nicol. During
this course he has been looking at ways of integrating his percussion
and composition studies, including writing a set of works for
Gamelan Ensemble, full percussion orchestra piece, and plans to
write a solo work for his second recital later in the year.
Outside of the university Brodie is exploring opportunities with
various ensembles, working with the Sound Festival, Any Enemy,
Angus Chorale Society etc. His next performance project will be
performing in a reduced ensemble of Verdi’s Requiem with large
reduction on Marimba.
As well as composing, Brodie enjoys exploring arrangements for
percussion. Recent works he has arranged are ‘The Greatest Show’
from The Greatest Showman for Steel Pan Ensemble, ‘Maple Leaf
Rag’ and ‘The Lark’ (Glinka/ Balakirev) for marimba duet and
Chopin’s Nocturne No. 20 in C# Minor for solo marimba.
 Programme Notes:
Tajin – James Campbell
Tajin by James Campbell is a multi-percussion solo with audio
accompaniment that evokes the steamy, shadowy jungle ruins of El
Tajin in Veracruz, Mexico. Long ago, the Mayans played games at
El Tajin, and the losers may have paid the ultimate price. The
instrumentation is purposefully vague - with the exception of
maracas, all other instruments are simply 'skin', 'wood', or 'metal'
sounds. This piece conveys the mystery of El Tajin perfect through
the use of these more ‘natural’ sounding instruments such as the
wood and joropo maracas.
Blues for Gilbert – Mark Glentworth
Mark Glentworth had studied at the Royal Northern College of
Music in Manchester from the early age of 16 under the tuition of
Professor Gilbert Webster. Upon hearing about his teachers death in
1985 Glentworth composed this work to express the sorrow he
experienced at that time. This was one of the first compositions
Glentworth had composed and has been performed for CD’s and by
world renowned percussionists such as Dame Evelyn Glennie. The
texture and harmonies combined with the freedom allows the
performer to express themselves and put their own emotions and
experiences into the music, helping to make the performance more
personal and unique.
Voices of Matsuri Drums – Keiko Abe
Keiko Abe is one of the most well known names in percussion as
both a performer and composer. Abe helped develop the technique
and repertoire in the marimba world and also helped to push the
development of the five octave marimba. A lot of Abe’s
compositions use motifs and melodies from Japanese folk and
traditional songs. This combined with many other characteristics of
her writing stand out and make you know it is written by her.
Matsuri Drums are similar to Taiko Drums in nature and playing
technique which has been represented in this work by the use of slap
mallets. These provide a contact sound alongside the pitch when
striking the marimba. With the accented patterns the feeling of
rhythmic drumming is brought through.
Nocturne No. 20 in C# Minor – Frederick Chopin arr. Brodie
McCash
I have always been fascinated by the ability to perform piano works
on the marimba and how to arrange music in such a manner. I think
what intrigues me the most is the ability to portray something
written for ten fingers with only four mallets (fingers in some
respect). As Chopin is one of the most prolific piano composer I
quite enjoyed the thought of arranging a piece by him. Something
that would provide a large contrast to my current repertoire,
allowing me to expand on new techniques and give myself a
challenge. I had starting learning this piece prior to my
undergraduate studies on piano, however I never quite completed it.
This makes it feel like I can finally be satisfied with this work, and
allow my colleagues, friends and family a chance to appreciate the
timbre and beauty of the marimba.