Evan McCreary - Junior Recital
This recital is presented in partial fulfilment of a BM in Music Performance
Elliott Carter was born in New York City in 1928 and went on to study music at Harvard University under the guidance of Gustav Holst and Walter Piston. Carter went on to teach at several universities, including: Yale University, Cornell University and The Juilliard School. “Eight Pieces for Four Timpani” was the introduction of new timpani techniques to the repertoire, including: playing in the center of the drum head to create a sound without a clear tone, playing with the back of the mallets, and pushing the mallets into the head, creating a muted tone. This piece also features a lot of metric modulations, which is a technique that is often associated with this specific composer.
“2040’s Sortie” is a rudimental snare drum solo that is considered a “Class A” difficulty solo by most High School Solo and Ensemble state standards. Composer Alan Abel is a Zanesville, Ohio native who studied at Ohio State University in 1950. This solo is dedicated to the V.F.W. Post 2040 in Coshocton, Ohio.
“When Jacques started to write his etudes in 1964, there was almost nothing in the repertoire for snare drum in France: no methods, no books, no etudes, no solo pieces. Percussionists had to study from orchestral excerpts, military drum books and a couple of low-level standard pieces. Delecluse did not merely revolutionize the pedagogical writing for percussion, he invented it! From nothing, he built a real school for percussion and created a pedagogical repertoire for snare drum, xylophone, timpani and vibraphone. There is a good reason that most of these books are still in use today all around the world.” - Notes by Frederic Macarez
Originally composed for violin and piano in 1910, “Tambourin Chinois” has become a very popular showpiece in the violin repertoire. This arrangement was written by virtuoso xylophonist, George Hamilton Green, in 1936.
Accompanist: Diane Yazvac
Originally written for the musical, Very Warm For May, “All The Things You Are” has become a standard that has been recorded by many jazz icons, including: Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis and Pat Metheny. This tune would later appear in the films, Broadway Rhythm (1944) and A Letter for Evie (1945).
“My Favorite Things” first appeared in the 1959 musical, The Sound of Music. This waltz became famous in the jazz scene when it was recorded by John Coltrane one year later.
“The Girl From Ipanema” is a bossa nova jazz standard that won a Grammy award in 1965. This tune has become the second most recorded popular song in history, behind only Yesterday, by The Beatles.
This tune was featured on the Dave Brubeck Quartet’s 1959 album, “Time Out,” and has since become one of the most iconic jazz standards of all time. What makes, “Take Five” so unique is that it is played in a 5/4 time signature, which is different from the usual 4/4 time that jazz is often played in.
This medium-up tempo tune was the first track on McCoy Tyner’s 1967 album, “The Real McCoy.” This album came out two years after Tyner split with John Coltrane’s quartet and features the drummer that McCoy Tyner played with in Coltrane’s quartet, Elvin Jones.
American Stevie Wonder continues to be the child star that never burnt out. He was born six weeks premature, which ultimately caused him to be blind for life. Despite this handicap, Wonder defied the odds and continues to have a successful music career 56 years after he was first discovered at age 12. “Golden Lady” was on Stevie’s 1973 album “Innervisions,” and features him on vocals, piano, bass and drums.
Combo Personnel: Colt Hutchinson-tenor sax, Arran Collins-alto sax, Andy Pickard-guitar, Brendan Burke-bass
Evan McCreary is a senior music performance major at Youngstown State University. He is a 2015 graduate of Poland Seminary High School, where he participated in the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, and Jazz Ensemble.
At YSU, Evan has studied under Dr. Glenn Schaft and Ed Davis. He has served as principal player and section leader of the Wind Ensemble, Dana Symphony Orchestra and the Concert Band. Evan has also performed with Jazz Ensemble 2, Jazz Combo, The Marching Pride and the Percussion Ensemble. He has also served as the Vice President of the Youngstown Percussion Collective for two years and is currently the President of the organization. Evan is also a member of the Percussive Arts Society.
While studying at Dana, Evan has performed at Carnegie Hall, The Ohio Music Education Association Conference, The International Horn Symposium, and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention.
Outside of school, Evan is the Assistant Marching Band Director/Drumline Instructor at Crestview High School, he teaches private lessons at Hubbard Music, and he has worked as a drum circle facilitator with the Southside Fine Arts Academy.
Evan would like to extend a sincere thank you to his family, colleagues, teachers, and friends.