Change forced on group

Press, 6 March 1978, Page 6

Change forced on group

Les Percussions de Strasbourg had to change its programme for last even-I ing’s performance in the Town Hall auditorium because it had lost the music of one of its world premiere pieces, “Alanbiq.” The music for the piece, which was specially written for the percussion group by the Australian composer, I Moya Henderson, is believed | to have been lost between (Korea and New Zealand, j Although the group replaced the piece with anI other item, the audience was denied hearing the group’s newest instrument played in (“Alanbiq.” This is a set of Ituned resonator triangles.

.which feature ordinary sym-; ; phonic triangles attached" to I .metal tubes, but varying in' size to create different echo-; ing sounds through the ] tubes. However, the audience, was able to hear the French] group of six play about 350: of its percussion in-; struments. It has accumulated about! 400 different instruments. from most countries i throughout the world. These are divided into, three sections. The first features traditional symphonic I sounds such as timpani,; xylophones, vibraphones and bass drums, but the other sections are made up; fof morey-unusual sounds. 1

i Most of these instruments I came from Asian, African, 'and South American coun- ! tries, where playing percussion was a feature of ■everyday life, said Mr Jean > j Christophe Saladin, the i group’s stage manager. They (include Thai metal gongs, (Hindu tablas, Japanese moI koubyos, and wooden I African drums and pipes. The total value of the ini struments is about $25,000. The group was formed in .1961 and only one member •has since been replaced. ■They do not write their Own ■‘music, but have collected , almost 100 pieces which (have been composed for I them by other performers.