Nexus (percussion ensemble)

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Nexus is a Canadian percussion ensemble that is located in the field of new music , but is also open to jazz and world music . The group has achieved an international reputation for mastering hundreds of percussion instruments from major musical traditions and cultures. The members have also invented their own instruments that meet special musical requirements.

The ensemble consists of Bob Becker (mainly on the marimba ), Bill Cahn (mostly on the xylophone ), Robin Engelman, Russell Hartenberger and Garry Kvistad. One of the founding members, Michael Craden, died in 1982; another, John Wyre, was replaced by Garry Kvistad in 2002. Engelman left the ensemble at the end of 2009 for health reasons.

history

Nexus was founded in Toronto in 1971 ; in its first concert it only played improvised music . The musicians were involved in the recordings of Steve Reich's drumming and also on the soundtrack of the film Schußfahrt vom Mount Everest  (1975); the following year the ensemble appeared in the Canadian documentary Musicanada . The group became internationally known after they released an album with flautist Paul Horn in 1975 - Paul Horn and Nexus . In 1976 Nexus performed ragtime music on mallet instruments. 1982 followed a production with the Canadian poet Earle Birney.

Numerous composers such as Toru Takemitsu have composed for the ensemble as well as the members of Nexus themselves. In 1985 the group was involved in a production of Glen Hall with Gil Evans ; In 1995 she brought Gavin Bryars to the recording of his album Farewell to Philosophy . She was also involved in Tony Levin's World Diary (1995). The group also gives master classes .

The ensemble had released 22 of their own albums by 2011. The album Drumtalker , released in 2003, was nominated for a Juno Award . Nexus toured almost every continent. For his anniversary tour in 2011, the concerts in Japan, the USA and Canada were sold out.

Discography

  • Paul Horn and Nexus (Columbia, 1975)
  • Nexus Ragtime Concert (Umbrella, 1976)
  • Music of Nexus (Nexus, 1978)
  • Under the Umbrella (CP, 1981)
  • Changes (Nexus, 1982)
  • Nexus & Earle Birney (1982)
  • The Best of Nexus (1989)
  • Nexus Now (1989)
  • Dance of the Octopus (CBC, 1990) with Judy Loman
  • Nexus Plays the Novelty Music of GHGreen (Nexus, 1991)
  • Origins (1991)
  • The Story of Percussion in the Orchestra (1992)
  • Voices (1994)
  • Music for Heaven and Earth (CBC, 1995)
  • Toccata (1996)
  • Nexus meets Peter Sadlo (Koch, 1997)
  • Rune (Nexus, 1997)
  • Orchestral Music of Takemitsu (1997)
  • Richard Stolzman / Nexus Garden of Sounds (1999)
  • Lullaby for Esme / Nocturnal (Nexus, 2001) with Leigh Howard Stevens
  • DrumTalker (Nexus, 2003)
  • Rituals (1998-2005)
  • Wings (2005)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b cf. Piero Scaruffi, Nexus , Avantgarde Music
  2. ↑ a b The Canadian Encyclopedia
  3. ↑ Nexus at Allmusic (English)
  4. ↑ See Orchestral Music of Takemitsu (1997)
  5. ^ Later published with Paul Horns / Egberto Gismontis Altura Do Sol as The Altitude of the Sun (Black Sun, 1989)