First Pitches
Gershwin had no idea how iconic it would be when he penned this first note to the xylophone part of Porgy and Bess.
What is F#?
Harry Partch's uniquely shaped "precious" 36-note marimba
What is the diamond marimba
This famous percussionist born in 1901 designed mallet percussion instruments for two separate companies, and also ran a 100 piece marimba orchestra at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1933.
Who is Claire Omar Musser? (Designed instruments for Deagan and Musser)
The German word for "Cymbals"
What is Becken?
Historically, snare drum snares have been made from this material.
What is animal (Sheep/goat) intestine?
Sorcerer Mickey Mouse dances with delight in Fantasia when he hears this note to start the glockenspiel in the Sorcerer's Apprentice.
What is G?
The first widely recognized piece composed for a solo percussionist in 1956
What is 27’10.554” by John Cage
This university publishing company published many standards in the percussion orchestra repertoire, including Maslanka’s “Crown of Thorns”, Helble’s "Diabolic Variations”, and Blaha’s “The Night Watch”.
What is the OU Percussion Press? (University of Oklahoma)
The French word for "Tenor Drum"
What is Caisse Roulante?
Other than rosewood, marimbas are often made using this cheaper, weather resistant material.
What is Padauk?
The drummer Tre Cool from this band threw out the first pitch at Wrigley Field in 2013.
Who is Green Day?
The number of gardens included in Kaija Saariaho's solo percussion work
What is six
This famous studio musician played the xylophone part for the theme song to “The Simpsons”, and also toured the world with Frank Sinatra.
Who is Emil Richards?
The Italian word for "Glockenspiel"
What is Campanelli?
Japanese Taiko drumheads are traditionally made from this thick, stretched and dried material.
What is Cowhide?
Rosenkavalier's iconic timpani part kicks off with this beloved timpani pitch.
What is D?
Stockhausen's percussion sextet that requires an ensemble member to cut into the belly of a large bird-like humanoid figure with large scissors
What is Musik im Bauch (Music in the Belly)
This country is the primary producer of Honduran Rosewood used in marimba bars.
What is Belize?
The German word for "cowbell"
What is Heerdenglocken?
Brake drums are made from this material
What is cast iron?
This is the number of notes in the Romeo and Juliet excerpt at letter O and also the number that Shohei Otani wears when he plays for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.
What is 16?
George Crumb's family dog that inspired the fifth and final movement of Mundus Canis (A Dog's World), for guitar & percussion
Who is Yoda
This 80’s Synth Pop group had many famous members, including Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails fame, former Cleveland Orchestra percussionist Tom Freer, and former Pittsburgh Symphony timpanist Tim Adams.
A: Who are the Exotic Birds?
The German word for "Claves"
What is Claves?
The metal beads on a cabasa are made out of this material.
What is (Stainless) Steel