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Works for Tabla

Works for Tabla is a recording that combines ancient drumming traditions with a contemporary composer’s perspective. The seeds for this project were planted many years ago in Idaho, when as a teenager, composer Payton MacDonald first heard recordings of classical Hindustani music performed on tabla drums in his local public library. Since that time, he has immersed himself in studying this music and developing an impressive career as a composer and performer.

MacDonald composed all of the works on this recording, which incorporate the improvisatory versatility and virtuosity characteristic of classical tabla music. His three concertos for Tabla and Percussion Quartet were composed between 2002 and 2004, and his solo Alap, Jor, Jhala was composed between 2003 and 2005. They are performed by Canadian Shawn Mativetsky, who met MacDonald when they were studying tabla with the guru Pandit Sharda Sahai. Together they are seeking to develop a new kind of classical music that will stand the test of time and engage many generations of listeners.

Press reviews:

"Mativetsky and the William Paterson University Percussion Ensemble play with easy grace and throbbing vitality. The CD should be of strong interest to fans of percussion, and of creative syntheses of Western and world musics that compromise the integrity of neither." 4.5 stars out of 5 - Stephen Eddins, allmusic.com

"...he brings a virtuosic command of his instrument to the material..." - textura.org

"The results are fascinating." - Richard Todd, Ottawa Citizen

"The work of tabla player Shawn Mativetsky and the William Paterson University Percussion Ensemble is often trance-inducing." 3.5 stars out of 4 - John Terauds, Toronto Star


To order online via Paypal (credit cards accepted):
  • Within Canada - 20$ Canadian funds, shipping included   
  • Within the USA - 20$ US funds, shipping included   
  • International orders - 27.50$ US funds, shipping included   


Audio excerpts:

2nd Concerto for Tabla and Percussion Quartet
With the William Paterson University Percussion Ensemble, dir. Payton MacDonald

Alap, tabla solo



Audio Clips
2nd Concerto for Tabla and Percussion Quartet, composed by Payton MacDonald
With the William Paterson University Percussion Ensemble, dir. Payton MacDonald

Trade Winds, Concerto for Tabla and String Orchestra, composed by Christien Ledroit
With the Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra, dir. Winston Webber

Metal Jacket, for tabla and harmonium, composed by Nicole Lizée
With Julie Lebel, harmonium

Farmaishi, for tabla, flute, clarinet, contrabass, and marimba, composed by Payton MacDonald
With the Quintette Mont-Royal

Alap, tabla solo, composed by Payton MacDonald

All works were commissioned by Shawn Mativetsky.
All tabla performed by Shawn Mativetsky.


Audio clips are also available at MySpace.



Discography


Payton MacDonald - Works for Tabla
(CD)

2007
Label: Atma Classique


Suzie Leblanc - Tout Passe - Chants d'Acadie
(CD)

2007
Label: Atma Classique

Galitcha - Blé d'Inde - Celebration (CD)

2006
Label: Independant

Galitcha - Satrang (CD)

2002
Label: Independant

Ramasutra - The East Infection(CD)

1999
Label: Tox Records
Winner of the ADISQ Félix Techno Album of the year. Nominated for a Juno.

Gaïa - Gaïa(CD)

2005
Label: Jajou Productions
Nominated for a Juno Award (World Music Album of the Year).

Thomas Hellman - Stories from Oscar's Old Café (CD)

2002
Label: Independant

Thomas Hellman - Something Wrong (CD)

1998
Label: Independant

McGill Percussion Ensemble - Percussion Music from the Americas (CD)
Pierre Beluse, director

1980-1996; McGill Records #7500-52-2

McGill Symphony Orchestra - Gustav Mahler, Symphony #5 (live) (CD)

1997
Disques Fonovox
Nominated for a Felix / nominé pour un Félix (ADISQ)

McGill Symphony Orchestra - Youth, Magic and Mahler (DVD)

2001
National Film Board of Canada / Prometheus Productions Ltd.

Trio Chanteclair - Canadian Premiere Performances (CD)

Available for order from the Canadian Music Centre.


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