James David
Duo Toccata for piano and percussion is, as one might expect, a "touch piece" for two instruments. The two movements are each based on a particular type of articulation. Campanello d’allarme or "alarm bell" uses long, ringing tones from numerous gongs, bells and other metallic sounds throughout. Frequent shifts of rhythmic organization are intended to create sudden moments of excitement within a largely calm texture. The second movement, Aula di tribunale or "courtroom," was so titled as the opening is reminiscent of the theme from the TV show The People’s Court. Sharp, quick articulations are the rule within a definite tendency towards Afro-Cuban rhythms. Drums and cymbals are important throughout with a brief aside from the xylophone. [J.D.]
James M. David is assistant professor of composition and music theory at Colorado State University. Among the distinctions David has earned as a composer are an ASCAP Morton Gould Award, national first-place winner in the MTNA Young Artists Composition Competition, and national first-place winner in the National Association of Composers, USA Young Composers Competition. In 2009, he was awarded the Grant for Emerging Wind Band Composers from the Atlantic Coast Conference and was a winner in the Dallas Wind Symphony International Fanfare Composition Competition. He has received commissions from Joseph Alessi of the New York Philharmonic, John Bruce Yeh of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and The Commission Project of Rochester, NY. His works have been performed throughout the United States, Thailand, and Japan, including the SCI National Conference, the MTNA National Conference, two World Saxophone Congresses, and three International Clarinet Fests. Dr. David graduated with honors from the University of Georgia and completed his doctorate in composition at Florida State University. His music is currently available through Pebblehill Music Publishers and has been recorded for the Summit, Naxos, and MSR Classics labels.