(b. 1988)
Mark Simpson was born in Liverpool in 1988. In 2006 he became unique in winning the BBC Proms/Guardian Young Composer of the Year and BBC Young Musician of the Year at the same time. In 2012 Simpson became a BBC New Generation Artist for 2 years and was also the recipient of Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship in 2014. The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra in Manchester appointed Simpson as their Composer in Association from 2015 to 2019. Two of his notable works include Sparks with its World Premiere at 2012 Last Night of the Proms and Simpon’s first opera, Pleasure commissioned by Opera North in 2016. As a professional clarinettist, Simpson remains a soloist and performs regularly in a solo and chamber role. He is developing a new Clarinet Concerto to premiere in 2019 with himself as soloist.
Mark Simpson Composition Timpani and Percussion Requirements
Clarinet Concerto
Timpani + 3 percussion
Glockenspiel, 2 octaves crotales. xylophone, vibraphone, marimba, tubular bells, 6 tom toms, orchestral bass drum, suspended cymbal x 2 (large, very large), tam tam
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The Immortal
Timpani + 5 percussion
Snare drum, suspended cymbal x 3, handbells, guiro, medium orchestral bass drum, large orchestral bass drum, tam tam, xylophone, vibraphone, Thai Gongs, 2 octaves crotales, 4 tom toms, bell plates, tubular bells, whip, glockenspiel, small triangle, large triangle, 3 congas, 5 octave marimba x 2, 2 anvils, tambourine, bongos, 5 large paint tins. mark tree x 2, rainstick, steel pans
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Israfel
Timpani + 3 percussion
Glockenspiel, vibraphone x 2, tubular bells, 2 octaves crotales, whip, snare drum, medium orchestral bass drum, large orchestral bass drum, F3 Thai gong, medium tam tam, large tam tam
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A mirror-fragment...
Timpani + 3 percussion
1) medium tam tam (shared with player 1), whip, marimba, tuned cowbells, orchestral bass drum (shared with player 3), 2) large tam tam, 2 octaves crotales, vibraphone 3) orchestral bass drum (shared with player 1), large anvil, small anvil, water gongs (C4 & F4), medium tam tam (shared with player 1)
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Nur Musik (Just Music)
No Timpani + 1 percussion
Large tam tam, large orchestral bass drum, large suspended cymbal, vibraphone, whip, 5 temple blocks
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Pleasure (Chamber Opera)
No Timpani + 1 percussion
5 octave marimba, 2 octaves crotales, mark tree, tambourine, 5 temple blocks, 2 wood blocks, congas, bongos, snare drum, pedal bass drum, hi hat, large suspended cymbal, tam tam
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Septet
No Timpani + 1 percussion
Tubular bells, suspended cymbal, sizzle cymbal, hi hat, vibraphone, bass bow, orchestral bass drum, large tam tam, surdo
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Sparks
Timpani + 3 percussion
Glockenspiel, vibraphone, 2 octaves crotales, tubular bells, triangle, whip, 2 wood blocks, 5 temple blocks x 2, wood drum x 2, orchestral bass drum, sizzle cymbal x 2, tam tam
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Threads
Timpani + 1 percussion
Chinese Opera gong x 2, metal block, large tam tam, orchestral bass drum, steel pans, xylophone, large suspended cymbal, roto toms, tubular bells, vibraphone, marimba, thunder sheet
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