David Valdés

Glissando bass drum in “Momente” (K. Stockhausen)

Glissando bass drum in “Momente” (K. Stockhausen) Karlheinz Stockhausen ´s “Momente” includes a very unusual drum: “DERI glissando drum”. © Karlheinz Stockhausen DERI has not a meaning in German; it is the acronym of DEibel and RImmel, as Max Deibel and Karl Rimmel were the founders of this brand.   Karl Rimmel started with a… Continue reading Glissando bass drum in “Momente” (K. Stockhausen)

The bass drum in “Symphonie Fantastique” (H. Berlioz)

The bass drum in “Symphonie Fantastique” (H. Berlioz) Berlioz´s “Symphonie Fantastique” is always a treat. I have played it on many occasions and on different instruments. Playing it again on the week of June 2-6, together with the Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias, has been a real pleasure.   This time I was on… Continue reading The bass drum in “Symphonie Fantastique” (H. Berlioz)

“Lieutenant Kije” and a peculiar tambourine technique

Lieutenant Kijé and a peculiar tambourine technique. On January 2, a new article of mine was published on the Grover Pro Percussion website. © Grover Pro Percussion Dealing with the very specific tambourine technique requested by Prokofiev in “Troika”, you can read it HERE. Tambourine part in “Troika”.     …et in Arcadia ego. ©… Continue reading “Lieutenant Kije” and a peculiar tambourine technique

Modification of a Premier bass drum

Montaje de parche de piel, aro, garra y llave. © David Valdés.

Modification of a Premier bass drum. This project is a consequence of a larger one; namely, to provide myself with the proper drums to recreate as close as possible the original sound, character and looks in Stravinsky´s “The Soldier´s Tale”.   For the bass drum I used a 28″x12″ Premier (model 188) from the 70s.… Continue reading Modification of a Premier bass drum

“Concerto for percussion and small orchestra” (D. Milhaud)

“Concerto for Percussion and Small Orchestra” (D. Milhaud) Considered one of the first concerti for multipercussion, the Concerto pour batterie et petit orchestre op. 109, by Darius Milhaud, was written  between 1929 and 1930. An important work in the percussion repertoire, it is played very often by both students and professionals.   It is scored… Continue reading “Concerto for percussion and small orchestra” (D. Milhaud)

DIY “Rute”

© David Valdés.

DIY “rute”. In ten days, rehearsals for Mahler #6 will start. I will be in charge of the bass drum and, as you may know, there is a European tradition which ties together this instrument and the rute. A rute is a bunch of twigs used to hit the bass drum shell, resulting in a… Continue reading DIY “Rute”