The Vision

Listen! Percussion (Jon Brown, Paul Owen, Joshua Graham, Darren Lin) and Ad Astra (Von Hansen, Luke Dull, Tai-Jung Tsai, Mai Tadokoro) are two innovative and dynamic chamber ensembles, both composed of young artists committed to commissioning new works for percussion. It has always been a dream of ours to collaborate with a composer who is well established in the percussion idiom. Having been fortunate enough to work with him previously, the primary composer of interest for both ensembles was Dave Hollinden. Approached with the idea of writing what would be his third quartet for percussion, Dave expressed equal enthusiasm for the project.

With the opportunity to have an artist of Dave Hollinden's standing and talent eager to work with us, we knew that we would take all necessary steps to fund this endeavor. All ensemble members are fully invested in this joint effort to bring Hollinden's music to fruition. 

This is where we need your help! As full-time students (with limited resources), every dollar that you can contribute will put us one step closer to our goal. We hope that you will support the arts and artists involved in this project to bring new music to the world and our community.

The Piece

This quartet is more grandiose than Hollinden's previous two in length, yet simplified in instrumentation. Hollinden intends to utilize all possible sounds from a limited instrument selection by exploring new notation methods and various mallet types, creating a soundscape that is truly unique. This new work is to be comprised of four percussionists playing 9 cast iron skillets, 9 terra cotta pots, 9 hand crafted wooden "tongue" drums and 9 standard concert toms, respectively. Below are images of the instruments to be used:

The Plan

Listen! is planning to premier the piece as the featured work of a "Pure Michigan Composers Concert" in Ann Arbor, April, 2013. The premiere will be followed by a studio recording session. It is our intent to tour the Midwest region promoting both the new quartet and Listen! Percussion Group.

Ad Astra will perform the Kansas premier of Mr. Hollinden's quartet in late April 2013 on the Kansas University campus. A tour of the Lawrence, Topeka, and Kansas City area will follow. Ad Astra will finish its concert season on Friday, May 10, at 7:00 p.m., presenting a concert featuring this commission on the Great Space's Concert Series at Grace Cathedral in Topeka, KS.

The Composer

Dave Hollinden has composed extensively for percussion, and his music is widely performed in the US and overseas. He has a unique voice that speaks not only of his training in composition but also of his background in rock music and his affinity for rhythm and number.

He has been the recipient of grants from Artist Trust, the Seattle Arts Commission, the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts, and the Artist Support Program of Jack Straw Productions. His Bachelors Degree in Composition is from Indiana University, where he studied with Harvey Sollberger and Juan Orrego-Salas. He received his Masters Degree in Composition from the University of Michigan, where he studied with Fred Lerdahl, William Albright and Leslie Bassett.

He has received commissions from the Eclectic Trio and Crescent Duo (chamber quartet), Sole Nero - Tony DiSanza and Jessica Johnson (duets for piano and percussion), Michael Burritt (marimba solo), Nick Petrella (multi-percussion solo), Nachiko Maekana (multi-percussion solo), Central Washington University (percussion octet), Midlothian High School (wind ensemble), and Victoria Memorial High School (percussion octet). His music appears on recordings by the Base Four Percussion Quartet ([one]), Norman Weinberg (Quilt), Sole Nero (Musica per Due), Joseph Gramley (American-De-Construction), the Ethos Percussion Group (Ethos), Michael Burritt (Shadow Chasers), the Eclectic Trio and Crescent Duo (Woodwind Echoes), and Equilibrium/Michael Udow (Border Crossing). The CD Slender Beams, created by Hollinden and percussionist Andrew Spencer, features live and studio recordings of his music. Learn more at http://www.davehollinden.com/