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 »
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Bob’s interview with Lindsay Haughton
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 »
Bob’s interview with Jonathan Latta
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 »
Bob’s interview with Leigh Howard Stevens
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 »
Bill Cahn Interview by Joe Spurlock
The following interview with Bill Cahn occurred in November 2007 at the request of Joe Spurlock, a student of percussion at Ohio State University. Q1. Very much of your music is influenced by other cultures, specifically eastern ones. How did you come about these influences and what intrigues you so about them to make them… Read more »
Teaching Total Percussion
(Stressing The Fundamentals : Getting a Good Sound with a Relaxed Technique) Presented by Bill Cahn – member of NEXUS Time: 60 minutes Requirements: bass drum on a cradle, xylophone, glockenspiel, 2 tables, 4 music stands Fundamental Principles for Selection and Setup of Percussion Instruments: 1. Have a variety of instruments to increase musical options;… Read more »
New Pieces Available!
William L. Cahn Publishing 8740 Wesley Road Bloomfield, New York 14469 Tel./Fax: (585) 582-2508 Email: billcahn@aol.com Website: www.nexuspercussion.com_______________________________ Recent Releases 1. Night Ride – scored for timpanist (4 timpani) and 4 percussionists (2 marimbas, vibraphone, glock, sus. cym. and 4 tuned gongs. Previewed at PASIC ’05; now also published in Japan by Komaki Music (@¥5000… Read more »
Practice – Q. + A.
by Bill Cahn – member of NEXUS The form in which we ask our questions will determine the answers we get. To put it more broadly: all the knowledge we ever have is a result of questions. Indeed, it is commonplace among scientists that they do not see nature as it is, but only through… Read more »
Social and Economic Issues in 2004 and Their Impact on the Arts
Preface – In the 20th century world of specialization, artists found their position in society as the purveyors of new possibilities through open and free thought – from Picasso and Stravinsky to Jackson Pollock and Karlheinz Stockhausen. Having broken away from the intellectual boundaries of the Victorian era, their artistic direction, known as the… Read more »
Authority and motivation in the symphony orchestra
A Symphony Musician’s Point of View by William L. Cahn © 1992 William L. Cahn, 8740 Wesley Road, Bloomfield, NY 14469 All Rights Reserved For the performing musician, symphony orchestras represent perhaps the greatest paradox in the state of art music in the late twentieth century. On the one hand these venerable institutions – born… Read more »
Creative Music Making – Book Release
New Book Release Creative Music Making (Four Simple Steps to Cultivating the Inner Musician) by William L. Cahn Published by Routledge, Taylor & Francis Books, Inc., New York/London Estimated Release Date – February 2005 CREATIVE MUSIC MAKING is a “how to” guide in creating free-form improvisational music on any combination of musical instruments to expand… Read more »
Bill Cahn Visiting Artist Residencies
Bill Cahn brings decades of experience world-wide in performance, education, arts administration, and community outreach to his residencies. Planned in collaboration with host organization(s), the goal of the residencies is to celebrate the power of music to enrich lives and the joy of music-making through skill development and the interactive sharing of ideas and concepts…. Read more »
Some Thoughts and Information Concerning Cymbals
Percussionists who perform in symphony orchestras form a relationship with their instruments that is esoteric, often arcane, and little understood by other musicians and the general public. Although most people have seen and heard cymbals, gongs and bells, for example, very few have had the experience of listening to one of them intimately and intently… Read more »
Creative Music-Making
(Four Simple Steps to Cultivating the Inner Musician) A Workshop Presented by Bill Cahn EQUIPMENT NEEDED- audio cassette (or DAT, CD, MD) recorder, mic(s), amp, speaker(s), marimba(s), vibraphone, 5 pairs of marimba mallets What is Creative Music Making? Creative Music Making is an interactive workshop in which musicians and music teachers of any age, student… Read more »
Photos from the Fargo – Moorhead Symphony Orchestra
Fargo – Moorhead Symphony Orchestra – April 2 – Memorial Auditorium Bill Law, executive director, Moorhead Symphony Orchestra Bill Cahn conducted two educational and a Family concert with the Moorhead Symphony Orchestra with Nexus as guest performers. Both concerts show a history of percussion in the orchestra and as solo instruments. A high – light… Read more »
