Face 2 Face

Item details

Description +
- Duration. 8 min.
  Recording by Heng LIU and Su SHU
  
  Preface
  
  Face 2 Face is a piece for percussion duo. In this piece, the two players share 5 drums and each of them has a splash cymbal. The idea of Face 2 Face is about quarrel - when there are two different opinions held by two persons, they debate, argue, brawl, fight.
Instrumentation +
- 5 Drums
  2 Splash Cymbals
Watch+
- Performance by DoubleBeats (Ni Fan & Lukas Böhm)
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.
Reviews +
- Review (Percussive Notes, October 2021)
  
  “Face to Face” is a rhythmically driven percussion duo in which the two players share five drums. It is described as a quarrel where “there are two different opinions held by two persons, they debate, argue, brawl, fight.”
  
  The five drums can be of any type as long as they are tuned from high to low. The performers play on the drumheads and rims, as well as a splash cymbal each (one sounding higher than the other to differentiate them), stick-on-stick, and a few vocalizations. The piece is fast — 172 bpm — and has changing meters. Though it can sound largely bombastic, there are moments where the bottom drops out of the dynamics with a subito piano.
  
  The technique is fairly straightforward drumming, but requires an excellent sense of time, rhythmic accuracy, listening and ensemble playing skills, and chops. There are short solo sections where each player gets to improvise for a few bars, and some opportunity for musical interpretation. At eight minutes the piece is just on the edge of lingering on too long, but it ends while the energy is still high.
  
  “Face to Face” would be a great addition to a collegiate or graduate-school recital, as it shows off the player’s skills, is doable with whatever instruments are available to even a small music program, and is sure to be an audience favorite.
  
  —Marilyn K. Clark Silva
Credits +
- Front Cover graphics and layout: Ronni Kot Wenzell
  Photo: NCPA Orchestra
  Engraving: Ary Golomb
  Printed in Copenhagen, Denmark
  Copyright © Edition SVITZER
  www.editionsvitzer.com

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