(b. 1929)
George Crumb was born in Charleston, West Virginia on 24 October 1929. He studied at the Mason College of Music in Charleston and received the Bachelor’s degree in 1950. Thereafter he studied for the Master's degree at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana under Eugene Weigel. Crumb's reputation as a composer of hauntingly beautiful scores has made him one of the most frequently performed composers in today's musical world. All over the world festivals devoted to the music of George Crumb have sprung up like wildflowers. Crumb, the winner of a 2001 Grammy Award and the 1968 Pulitzer Prize in Music, continues to compose new scores that enrich the musical lives of those who come in contact with his profoundly humanistic art.
George Crumb Composition Timpani and Percussion Requirements
Ancient Voices of Children
No Timpani + 3 percussion
Mandolin part also requires crotales C#4, G, C5
Soprano part requires 2 glock notes C#5 and Eb
1) large tam tam, finger cymbal, G#4 crotale, tambourine, timbale, marimba, maracas, small triangle, lage suspended cymbal, tubular bells 2) medium tam tam, 4 tuneable tom toms (A3, B, D#4, F) large suspended cymbal, tenor drum, maracas, tubular bells (G3-C5) 3) small tam tam, Tibetan prayer stones, claves, vibraphone, 32" timpani, crotales E5 & F, mounted top F# glockenspiel note, sleighbells, maracas, large suspended cymbal, 5 Japanese temple bells
Other players - glockenspiel, mounted crotales (C#4, G5, C5)
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Music for a Summer Evening
No Timpani + 2 percussion + 2 pianos
1) 3 Japanese temple bells, small and very large tam tams, maracas, glass wind chimes, alto recorder, small and large suspended cymbal, cymbal with flatten dome to sit on large timpani, claves, 3 woodblocks, glockenspiel, bass bow, thunder sheet, vibraslap, orchestral bass drum, crotales (C4-C6), African log drum, Tibetan prayer stones, 2 tom toms, sizzle cymbal, sistrum, bell tree, swanee whistle, xylophone, tubular bells 2) vibraphone, bamboo chimes, 5 temple blocks, sizzle cymbal, small and large tam tam, bongos, swanee whistle, jug, bass bow, bell tree, sleighbells, small and large triangle, large suspended cymbal, xylophone, tubular bells G3 & A
Piano player 1 requires - guiro, crotale G#4 - piano player 2 requires - kalimba
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Songs, Dances and Refrains of Death
No Timpani + 2 percussion
Glockenspiel, xylophone, 2 x tenor drums, bongos, 4 x wood blocks, claves, 2 x tambourines, high octave crotales, 2 sleigh bells, 4 x triangles, 5 x suspended cymbals, 2 x tam tams, jews harp, 3 tuned cowbells, 10 wine glasses, vibraphone, marimba, lujon, timbales, orchestral bass drum, 3 plastic mixing bowls, temple gong, flexatone, 3 antique cymbals, hand bell
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Star Child
No Timpani + 8 percussion
1) small tam tam, bass bow, large suspended cymbal, sleighbells, crotales (A4, Bb, A5, Bb) 2) medium tam tam, bass bow, very large suspended cymbal, crotales (B4, C5, B5, C6), sleighbells, 3) large tam tam, bass bow, 3 timpani, metal edged ruler, suspended cymbal on timpani, orchestral bass drum, small and large suspended cymbal, tambourine, G5 crotale (with player 4), tubular bells, claves 4) very large tam tam, bass bow, small log drum, heavy iron chains, xylophone, 4 tom toms, sizzle cymbal, glockenspiel (with player 3), vibraphone, flexatone, bongos, wind machine 5) large tam tam, large suspended cymbal, maracas, mounted tambourine, sizzle cymbal, sleighbells, 4 tom toms, thundersheet, 2 octaves crotales, tubular bells, flexatone, claves 6) maracas, medium tam tam, sleighbells, sizzle cymbal, tenor drum, 4 tom toms, medium suspended cymbal, thundersheet and tubular bells (with player 5), conga, claves 7) large log drum, heavy iron chains, sizzle cymbal, small and medium tam tams, bass bow, 4 tom toms, 4 pot lids, orchestral bass drum, glockenspiel, flexatone, conga, claves, tenor drum 8) 3 timpani, metal edged ruler, suspended cymbal for timpani, orchestral bass drum, tambourine, large tam tam, very large bell with metal beater, C#5 crotale, snare drum, vibaphone, large suspended cymbal, flexatone, claves
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