[ MINIMUM SECURITY COMPOSERS COLLECTIVE > PROJECT

Many of Minimum Security's best collaborations have been with percussionists, and after intensive collaborations with Odd Appetite (cello and percussion) the Yesaroun' Duo (sax and percussion), the Kamellion Duo (flute and percussion), marimbist Paul Fadoul, and ensembles with percussion Eighth Blackbird and Dogs of Desire, Minimum Security has made a major contribution to the percussion literature.

Minimum Security's latest project is a contribution to the mallet-percussion literature, studies for marimba, xylophone, and vibraphone that are not only suitable for the concert stage, but have pedagogical value and address all major concerns of percussion students. For this project, world-renowned percussionist Eduardo Leandro * (see below for bio) is developing a course of study for percussionists of all levels of experience, and working with Minimum Security to create Studies in Wood and Metal, which will be released as printed music, a CD recording, and a concert tour of performances and clinics with young percussionists across America.

Outside of their work in Minimum Security, each MSCC composer has written works for percussion solo, percussion ensemble, and chamber music (listed below). To order scores and recordings of these works, please email contact at minimumsecurity dot org.

Dennis DeSantis:
   +8 for tenor saxophone and drum kit
   Breaking Training for flute and marimba
   Clock-Face Without Hands for solo marimba
   Fodder for cello and percussion
   Shifty for percussion quartet

Roshanne Etezady
   Concerto for marimba and orchestra
   Disco Lemonade for solo marimba
   Feast or Famine for marimba and percussion quartet
   Hot Water Burn Baby for flute and marimba
   Mr. Saturday Night for solo timpanist
   Nothing if Not for alto saxophone and percussion
   Smoke and Mirrors for flute and marimba

Adam Silverman
   Quick Blood for percussion quartet
   Smelting Solid Gold for baritone saxophone and drum kit
   stars, cars, bars for solo marimbist/speaker
   Strawberry Fields Continued for cello, percussion, and electronics

Ken Ueno
   ...a.m... for percussion quartet
   Contemplation on Little Big Muff for amplified cello and drum kit + vibes
   Everyday Stuff for amplified found objects as percussion
   Introit: Vox Boombox Remixus for flute and marimba with boombox
   La Mere for flute and marimba
   Theatre in Music for solo marimba
   Vertical Features Remake I for amplified mandolin and amplified soda cans (percussionist)
   Vertical Features Remake II for cello, percussion, and live electronics
   WATT for baritone saxophone and drum kit with boombox
   Yellow 632 for 3 percussionists playing Big Bird toys

* Eduardo Leandro was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and attended the Sao Paulo State University, the Rotterdam Conservatory and Yale University, where he studied with Robert van Sice. He is part of the Percussion Duo Contexto, ensemble in residence at the Centre Internacional de Percussion in Geneva since 1995. Leandro has been principal percussionist with Ensemble Champ d'Action in Belgium and has played regularly with Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam and Ensemble Contrechamps in Switzerland. He has performed in music festivals throughout the world such as the Suita Music Festival in Osaka, Ferienkurse fur Neue Muzik Darmstadt, Festspiel in Salzburg, Ars Musica in Brussels, Archipel in Geneva, Nits de Altea in Spain, Espinho Music Meeting in Portugal, Izmir Music Festival in Turkey, Aetheneum Concert Series in Helsinki and Festival d'Automne in Paris. Leandro has played with Pierre Boulez, Heins Holliger, Steve Reich and David Robertson. He has won the New Music Contest in Dusseldorf, Germany, the Eldorado Competition in Sao Paulo, and he has been a finalist with the L. H. Stevens First Marimba Competition.

Leandro performs with the New York Chamber Symphony, the American Symphony Orchestra, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the Da Capo Chamber Players, Sequitur Ensemble, Perspectives Ensemble and the Bang on a Can All-Stars. Recently he was a member of the jury for the International Osaka Marimba Competition. He has taught at Dartmouth College and he is currently the head of percussion studies at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and SUNY Stonybrook.