Timpani Concerto No. 1

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Description +
- Duration: 25 min.
  
  Timpani Concerto No. 1 is a four-movement work for solo timpani and seven percussionists. It was composed for the composer’s doctoral debut concert at the Central Conservatory of Music in China, following the suggestion of his mentor, Professor Li Biao. The piece premiered on May 27, 2025, performed by Heng Liu and the Percussion Ensemble of the Central Conservatory of Music.
Instrumentation +
- Required Instruments
  
  Solo Timpani and Percussion Instruments
  Full set of timpani (32”, 29”, 26”, 23”, 20” suggested)
  
  Percussion instruments on timpani:
  China cymbal, Naobo (Chinese large paired cymbals),
  1 piece Chinese gong (down-tuned), Qing (bowl) & Splash cymbal
  
  Accessories:
  Played with timpani mallets (hard/soft felt, wood, feather, etc.),
  brushes, bow, rings, and fingers
  
  Percussion 1
  Glockenspiel & Bowl (high)
  
  Percussion 2
  Xylophone & Bowl (low)
  
  Percussion 3
  Vibraphone
  
  Percussion
  4 Marimba (shared with Percussion 5)
  
  Percussion 5
  Tubular bells & Marimba (shared with Percussion 4)
  
  Percussion 6
  Suspended cymbals (crash, ride)
  Bell tree or chimes
  Hi-hat
  Xiaocha (Chinese small paired cymbals)
  Bongos
  Conga
  Woodblocks (high and low)
  Seed rattles or shaker
  
  Percussion 7
  Bass drum
  3 tom-toms
  Bowl or waterphone
  Suspended chuanbo (paired cymbals from Sichuan, China)
  or suspended China cymbal
  
  * During bar 332, “hitting” indicates striking any part of the instrument setup that produces a “click” sound, using bow, sticks, or mallets.
  
  ** All players are required to use their voice (see “Vocal” parts) in the 3rd movement.
Watch+
About the composer +
- Heng LIU is the principal percussion of the China National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra, executive director of China Percussion Association, artist of MEINL Percussion, MEINL Cymbals, Innovative Percussion, Marimba One, and Remo.
  
  Liu studied percussion from childhood with his father Yaguang LIU, professor of percussion at Xi 'an Conservatory of Music. In 2005, Liu was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music. He studied with professor Gang LIU and professor Biao LI successively and obtained bachelor's and master's degrees. By the time he was 18, Liu had won the first prize in the National Youth Percussion Competition. Liu was a percussion jury of the Italian International Percussion Competition, where he also held master classes and special concerts. He also judges the annual International Network Percussion Competition and National Youth Percussion Competition.
  
  Between 2017 to 2019, Liu embarked on his improvisation and interactive percussion concert "Give me one hour" tour. The tour hit many major Chinese cities including Tianqiao Art Center in Beijing, Shanghai Oriental Art Center, Xi 'An concert hall, Shijiazhuang Center for the Performing Arts, etc. Liu performed entirely improvised sets based on interaction with the audience, bringing concertgoers a brand new musical experience. 
  
  So far, Liu has published two albums: Percussion Visionary --Heng LIU Percussion Concert and DRUMS, an original album released by "Hei Chao" Duo with renowned drummer Yanchao LI. He also writes a personal column Heng LIU Said in music weekly.
  
   As a percussionist, Liu has traveled to various music festivals around the world. These include: Italian International Percussion Competition and Festival, Greek International Percussion Competition and Festival, NCPA International Percussion Festival, Beijing International Electronic Music Festival, Beijing Modern Music Festival, Jazz Shanghai Music Festival, Strawberry Music Festival, MIDI Festival and so on.
  
  In the meanwhile, Liu has created more than 30 works, including percussion ensemble piece "The General", "Memory", "Face2Face", percussion and electronic music "Delay", "Percumotion", percussion solo "Rain the Blind Monk", "Wild LEO ", "Poem" and many more. In 2016, his Chinese Traditional Percussion solo piece "Gazing on Mountain TAI" won the 1st prize of China Traditional Music Festival - CCOM ethnic Percussion works collection competition.
  
  In 2019, Heng LIU won "Best Work Awards" and "Best All-round Percussionist" of 2019 Drummmer's Ceremony.
Credits +
- Front Cover graphics and layout: Nicola Lee
  Printed in Copenhagen, Denmark
  Copyright © Edition SVITZER
  www.editionsvitzer.com

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