Marimba Concerti with Percussion Orchestra is one of a number of recordings being reissued by Parma Recordings's Ravello label. In 2008, Parma acquired Capstone Records, the highly respected New York-based classical label founded by composer Richard Brooks in 1986, with the intent of shepherding the company and its music into the digital era...

Robert McCormick conducts his McCormick Percussion Group – an ensemble comprised of 20 marimbists and accompanied by guest pianist Corey Holt Merenda throughout. Guest conductor Cayenna Rosa Ponchione appears on her composition 'The Creation', the album’s concluding track

Other compositions on the album include 'The Alabados Song' by Paul Bissell; 'Concertino for Two Marimbas and Six Percussionists' by Jan Van Landerhem; 'Concertino for Marimba and Four Percussionists' by Chihchun Chi-sun Lee; 'Concerto for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble' by Daniel Adams; and 'Concertino for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble' by Paul Reller.

Percussion centric albums: you either love 'em or loathe 'em. Personally, I can take them or leave them. But I really have to be in the right mood. For me they are interesting, but I can't listen to them for pleasure. That's very true on this recording. For me, classical music has to stir something inside me and draw out an emotional response for it to be thoroughly enjoyable.

While technically this is a mini work of art, it's a tad too pretentious for the casual listener. Percussion fans will love it, however.

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Darren Rea