Dusk: Percussion Music from the Heartland

This compact disc recording was part of a three-year project I began while on faculty at the University of Kansas (2000-03). I commissioned four composers to write pieces for me, for the ensemble, or some combination thereof, and the following new works are the result! I also included a beautiful piece by Dave Samuels, which ended up as the title track. The students did a fantastic job, as did everyone involved with the project.

The disc was recorded in three large "chunks," the first two in Spring of 2003 at KU, and the last during the Summer of 2004 at Florida State. I hope you enjoy the tracks! All files are kept to 30 seconds or less in order to comply with licences and copyrights (A-Train Entertainment/Orient Point Music, other individual composers).

Homage and the Concerto's movements are linked separately.

WARNING: Movements II and V of Homage, as well as the second movement of the Timpani Concerto, are very powerful and could damage your speakers if you don't adjust the volume accordingly.

Dusk

Valence

Homage to Jacques Cousteau I II III IV V

Vertical River

Concerto for Timpani with Percussion Ensemble I II

John Parks: Percussion/Conductor

Ensemble Members: (*indicates current FSU student) Valerie Cole, Matt Lippincott, *Keith Lloyd, *John O'Neal, *Caleb Plunkett, Seth Rowoldt, *Stephen Versaevel, Chris Wade, Julius Zilinskas.

Engineer: Colin Mahoney

Reproduction: Repmedia, Quebec, Canada

Graphic Design: Dave Gnojek

Commissioned Composers: Jay Batzner, Kip Haaheim, Jesse Krebs, Blake Tyson

Guest Composer: Dave Samuels

Soloists: John O'Neal, Blake Tyson, John Parks