CLASSICAL MUSIC - EVELYN GLENNIE: IN CONCERT

Evelyn Glennie, the Scottish-born percussionist extraordinaire, is as accomplished in recital as she is in concert with an orchestra.  Recorded live from the Munich Klaviersommer, this programme includes her performances of Askell Masson’s Prim, an electrifying solo for snare drum; Frederic Rzewski’s To the Earth, a particularly novel piece for four flower pots and voice; Michi, an elegiac work for solo marimba by her Japanese mentor, the marimba virtuoso Keiko Abe; the German première of John McLeod’s The Song of Dionysius, elaborately scored specially for Glennie, on a whole battery of percussion, and pianist Philip Smith, a distinguished soloist in his own right, who accompanies her on this occasion; and from Brazil, Ney Rosauro’s Concerto for Marimba (and piano), four movements which bring together the most diverse elements with syncopation to the fore.

Glennie is as fascinating to watch as to hear. Her art, by its nature, is both physical and mobile, yet she always maintains an appearance of economical ease and grace.

Dame Evelyn Elizabeth Ann Glennie, DBE (born July 19, 1965 in Aberdeen), is a Scottish virtuoso percussionist. She was the first full-time solo percussionist in 20th-century western society.

Evelyn Glennie was brought up on a farm in Aberdeenshire near where she was born. Her father was Herbert Arthur Glennie, an accordionist in a Scottish country dance band, and the strong, indigenous musical traditions of north-east Scotland were important in the development of the young musician, whose first instruments were the mouth organ and the clarinet. Other major influences were Glenn Gould, Jacqueline du Pré and Trilok Gurtu. She studied at Ellon Academy and the Royal Academy of Music, and was also a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.

Glennie tours extensively in the northern hemisphere, spending up to four months each year in the United States, and performs with a wide variety of orchestras and contemporary musicians, giving over 100 concerts a year as well as master classes and "music in schools" performances. She frequently commissions percussion works from composers and performs them in her concert repertoire.

She also plays the Great Highland Bagpipes and has her own registered tartan known as "The Rhythms of Evelyn Glennie". Glennie is in the process of producing her own range of handmade jewellery, and also works as a motivational speaker.

Glennie has been profoundly deaf since age 12. This does not inhibit her ability to perform at the international level. She regularly plays barefoot for both live performances and studio recordings, to better "feel" the music.

Glennie contends that deafness is largely misunderstood by the public. She claims to have taught herself to hear with parts of her body other than her ears. In response to criticism from the media, Glennie published Hearing Essay in which she personally discusses her condition.

Glennie featured on Icelandic singer Björk's album Telegram, performing the duet "My Spine". She has collaborated with many other musicians including former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, Bela Fleck, Bobby McFerrin, Fred Frith and The King's Singers.

On 21 November 2007, the UK government announced an infusion of £332 million for music education. This resulted from a successful lobbying spearheaded by Glennie, Sir James Galway, Julian Lloyd Webber, and Michael Kamen, who also (in 2002/2003) together formed the Music in Education Consortium.

Source: Wikipedia