Two Pianos and Percussion

In this book the author analyzes three important works written for two pianos and percussion from a perspective of a percussion player. The three pieces include Béla Bartók’s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion George Crumb’s Music for a Summer Evening (Makrokosmos III) and Steve Reich’s Quartet for two pianos and two vibraphones. The analysis focuses on the parallels between pianos and percussion the impact these compositions had on development of percussion instruments and the musicians behind them as well as the importance of rhythm in music.