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Notable performances include the 2018 Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Indianapolis, Percussive Arts Society Ohio Chapter Days of Percussion at Capital University, Ohio Northern University, Youngstown State University, and Ohio Music Education Association Conferences in Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati. A central part of our mission involves collaborations with composers in the commissioning, premiering, and critically acclaimed recording of their works. Our 2005 release "Dark Wood" includes six premiere recordings and commissions. Our commission project with New York City-based percussionist/composer John Hollenbeck on his "Ziggurat" for five percussionists and four saxophonists, was premiered at the Whitney Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City, and is available on his 2008 release "Rainbow Jimmies." The Youngstown Percussion Collective's 2012 release "Forms Of Things Unknown" is a concert-length suite by YSU professor of jazz studies, bass, and composition, Dr. Dave Morgan. Our 2012 recording of Ron Coulter's "Cajon Trio" will appear on an upcoming 2019 Coulter CD release.
On June 6, 1944, at dawn, British and American forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in an elaborate amphibious operation. A total of 425,000 American, British, and German men lost their lives in the ensuing conflict. Normandy Beach - 1944 was composed in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of this important, yet tragic day that changed the course of World War II. The work is cast in three sections. The first is dark and mysterious characterizing the preparation and eve of D-Day. The bowed marimbas allude to distant bugle calls. Gathering momentum, the second section depicts the tragic conflict on D-Day including references to the "Star Spangled Banner" and "America, the Beautiful". All motion ceases and the final section or epilogue suggests the aftermath of this tragic day. Normandy Beach was commissioned by James Coviak and the North Farmington Hills High School Percussion Ensemble and was premiered at the 1994 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, 1994. Notes by David Gillingham.
Dr. David Morgan is Assistant Professor of Music at Youngstown State University where he teaches jazz bass, directs big bands and combos, teaches jazz improvisation/arranging, and performs with the YSU Faculty Jazz Group. He is best known as a jazz bassist and has shared the stage with many leading jazz musicians including Larry Coryell, James Moody, Frank Foster, Joe Chambers, Cedar Walton John Hicks, Joe Lovano, Bob Brookmeyer, Bobby Watson, and Mose Allison. Morgan performs regularly with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, the Jack Schantz Jazz Unit, and with a variety of smaller ensembles. He has also appeared and/or recorded with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Popls Orchestra, the Akron Symphony, and the Cleveland Chamber Symphony. Morgan, who holds a M.M. in Music Theory and a D.M.A. in Composition from the University of Texas at Austin, is also active as a theorist and composer. His theoretical research has focused on the harmonic and melodic vocabulary of contemporary jazz, and he has presented two papers at National Meetings of the Society for Music Theory. His article “Superimposition in the Improvisations of Herbie Hancock” is published in the most recent issue of the Annual Review of Jazz Studies. His compositions for jazz and classical ensembles are performed throughout the world. The 13-piece Jazz Unit has released a critically-acclaimed recording of his compositions entitled Choices. The Polish National Chamber Orchestra recently recorded his Romance for Flute and Strings with flautist Katherine DeJongh for the Errato label. He was awarded the 2003 Award of Achievement in Popular Music/Jazz from Northern Ohio Live for his transcriptions and arrangements of the music of Frank Zappa. Dr. Schaft performed the world premiere of Dr. Morgan’s concerto Reactions for drum set and wind ensemble with the YSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble in spring 2002 and will perform it at the Ohio Music Educators Association Conference in Columbus in February, 2004.
Dark Wood for Four Marimbas is an attempt to fuse the harmony of Bill Evans, the counterpoint of Johannes Brahms, and the rhythms of South America. The overall form is ABA with a short coda. The composition requires performers with the ability to simultaneously maintain a solid groove and play lyrically. Notes by David Morgan and Glenn Schaft.
The Whole Toy Laid Down is a tour-de-force quartet that quickly found its way into the premiere percussion chamber music repertory. Dave Hollinden says of the work, “the title and music for The Whole Toy Laid Down were inspired by an extended daydream about a mechanical wind-up toy. With that as a starting point, my goal was to fuse the energy of rock style drumming with classical performance technique, resulting in music that is both accessible and challenging.”
Premiered in 1988 by Ray des Roches and the Percussion Ensemble of New Jersey at the Charles Ives Center, it was also performed at the 1990 PASIC in Philadelphia by the University of Michigan Percussion Ensemble. Each player uses a large multiple percussion set-up of standard instruments. The opening motive introduces the theme that recurs throughout the work. Rotating between strong dissonance and octave figures, Hollinden sets the stage for this "roller coaster" piece. The music jumps from meter to meter with aggressive unison figures finding contrast with tempo changes and isolated solo passages. The work concludes with a restatement of the main theme and a forceful ending.
Hollinden earned the Master of Composition degree from the University of Michigan and the Bachelor of Composition degree from Indiana University. The majority of his compositions are for percussion. He resides in Madison, Wisconsin. Notes by Glenn Schaft.
The Youngstown Percussion Collective (YPC) is a professional group in residence at YSU dedicated to percussion performance and education. YPC presents Public Concerts, K-12 School Presentations, Clinics, Masterclasses, Residencies, Private & Group Lessons, and Consulting services. Founded in 2002, the YPC includes Glenn Schaft, Janet Pemberton - adjunct faculty, Ron Coulter - adjunct faculty, Justin Watt - graduate teaching assistant, Craig Hill - graduate assistant in bands/marching percussion, Patrick Wagner - graduate teaching assistant/facilitator for the SMARTS drum circle program, David Hepler - graduate assistant in orchestra and percussion, Robert Flamino – junior performance major, and Nathan Douds - undergraduate teaching assistant/facilitator for the SMARTS drum circle program. YPC is a further development of the 2000 YSU student founded “Percussion Art Ensemble”.
Dr. Schaft and the YSU Percussion Program extend their gratitude to Avedis Zildjian Cymbals, GMS Drums, Remo Inc., and ProMark Inc. for their instrument and artist support.
