Saturn`s Rings

Item details

Description +
- Preface
  
  Saturn’s Rings is a piece for 4 players performed on one marimba with surrounding drums and cymbals. This work describes the charm, magnificence and power of Saturn's Rings.
Instrumentation +
- Required Instruments
  
  4 Tom-Toms
  2 Bongos Splash
  Cymbal (suspended)
  Crash Cymbal (suspended)
  Marimba (5-octave)
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, February 2025)
  
  "Saturn’s Rings" for percussion quartet features four players stationed around a 5-octave marimba augmented with drums and cymbals. While the majority of the piece is performed with the players staying in one “station,” there are moments when they have to move counterclockwise around the marimba, perhaps in reference to the piece’s title.
  
  Tonal and engaging throughout, the piece begins at a slow and pensive tempo with instruments gradually layering in. The composer indicates for performers to enter the stage one-by-one to enhance this effect. This is followed by an accelerando, bringing the piece to a vigorous 132 beats per minute that lasts for the remainder of the work. Parts alternate between melodic statements and hocket-like counterpoint. A boisterous drum feature occurs, underpinned by sixteenth-note marimba ostinati near the middle of the piece. While the opening features softer dynamics, the majority of the work remains loud and aggressive, often threatening balance issues between the marimba and non-pitched parts, as well as listener fatigue. Performers and ensemble coaches could perhaps circumvent this with creative phrasing and addition of their own softer dynamics in places.
  
  The overall ensemble sound is dense, but individual parts are idiomatic and playable with intermediate-level four-mallet technique. Perhaps the most challenging aspects of performance would be the individual confidence required in each part for ensemble cohesion, and the seeming necessity of memorization due to the setup and logistics.
  
  —Jason Baker
Credits +
- With support from Koda’s Cultural Funds
  Front Cover graphics and layout: Ronni Kot Wenzell
  Photo: NCPA Orchestra
  Printed in Copenhagen, Denmark
  Copyright © Edition SVITZER
  www.editionsvitzer.com

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