from Wholenote Magazine Among contemporary music fans, NEXUS has long been considered one of the world’s premiere percussion ensembles – and they have been making music of the percussive persuasion for an astonishing 37 years. I think I just may be dating myself when relating that I attended some of their early memorable all-improvised concerts… Read more »
June 8, 2008 NEXUS Bob Becker, Bill Cahn, Robin Engelman, Russell Hartenberger, Garry Kvistad Has the Reich Stuff at The Ojai Music Festival In a pair of towering programs at the Ojai (CA) Music Festival, NEXUS, the internationally acclaimed percussion ensemble, brought audiences to standing ovations with performances of masterworks by Steve Reich, this year’s… Read more »
“one of the peak experiences of my musical life…At the sudden ending…ecstatic whoops and cheers forced three curtain calls… It was a performance for the ages.” – Brett Campbell, San Francisco Classical Voice “Ojai felt, for that hour, like holy ground.” – Mark Swed, L. A. Times music critic “I’m writing this a few hours… Read more »
NEXUS Bob Becker, Bill Cahn, Robin Engelman, Russell Hartenberger, Garry Kvistad Performs Minimalist Classics At the ‘Cool Drummings’ Festival Toronto – May 23, 2008 Since the ensemble’s first concert in 1971 NEXUS, the Toronto-based percussion quintet, has participated in many international music festivals around the world. NEXUS has been credited with extending the modern percussion… Read more »
The following excerpt is from an interview with Shannon Wood, originally published in the Artist Insight section of the July, 2005 issue of Mallet Shop Quarterly. MSQ: Two names come to mind when one thinks of virtuoso xylophone playing: the late George Hamilton Green and Bob Becker. Bob has raised the bar of xylophone soloing… Read more »
Photos from The University of Toronto – Faculty Artist Series April 4, 2008 with guest artists John Rudolph, percussion, and Lydia Wong, piano
Photos from The Music Gallery March 2008 with guest pianists Midori Koga and Lydia Wong
Hi Bob, Following are the questions I’d like you to answer. You may take your time – the paper isn’t due until December 11th, 2007. As a percussionist, you often play music and musical instruments from around the world. What are your thoughts on performing music that is not part of your culture? This is… Read more »
November 1, 2007 Release NEXUS Bob Becker, Bill Cahn, Robin Engelman, Russell Hartenberger, Garry Kvistad Releases A New Compact Disc‘WINGS’ – NEXUS CD #10915 NEXUS has been credited with expanding the modern percussion ensemble’s world of possibilities. Since the group’s first all improvised concert in 1971, the Toronto-based percussion quintet has performed its music in… Read more »
I really want to thank you for doing this with me. As you will see from my questioning I tried to take a perspective of the “Bob the Performer” and “Bob the Composer” and combine the two. If you find that you answer one question in a previous answer and want to omit a question… Read more »
NEXUS – WINGS Nexus Records 10915 A Song of Circles and Triangles –Toru Takemitsu, arr. by Robin Engelman Sakura (Cherry Blossoms – Traditional) – Toru Takemitsu, arr. by Robin Engelman Just Sing – Bill Cahn
September 27, 2007 U.S. premiere of ‘Dance Music for Elfrid Ide’ (1940) by John Cage All Photos by Donald Dietz, courtesy of The John Cage Trust
NEXUS Bob Becker, Bill Cahn, Robin Engelman, Russell Hartenberger, Garry Kvistad Premieres Two Major Works for Percussion September 2007 NEXUS, the Toronto-based percussion quintet, has been credited with expanding the modern percussion ensemble’s world of possibilities. Since the group’s first all improvised concert in 1971 NEXUS has performed its music in solo recitals and with… Read more »
Toronto Summer Music Academy and Festival
“A Night at the Movies”
August 2007 – University of Toronto
The following interview was conducted at the request of the Percussive Arts Society, and appeared in the August, 1996 issue of Percussive Notes. LHS: Let’s get this important question out of the way in the very beginning. Everybody who knows anything about xylophone knows you are not only the greatest living xylophonist, but also the… Read more »
