Steve Reich’s relationship with percussion spans the entirety of his instrumental output. Composed over a period of thirty years, the works on this disc highlight the diversity of tonal, textural and colouristic effects that he achieves. Recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for 2009, Steve Reich has been called ‘America’s greatest living composer’, The Village Voice, and ‘the most original musical thinker of our time’, The New Yorker.

The Timpani and Percussion Department at the Royal Academy has a worldwide reputation for its provision for students, and for its training in the multifaceted world of timpani and percussion. The members of staff include principal players with London’s leading orchestras, international soloists, and leading session musicians, all of whom are active in musicmaking of the highest professional standard.

The coming year sees Neil Percy celebrate over 20 years as Principal Percussionist with the London Symphony Orchestra and 12 years as Head of Timpani and Percussion at the Royal Academy of Music. During this time, Neil has worked closely with many major artists and conductors and as a soloist with Sir Colin Davis, Pierre Boulez, Steve Reich, François-Xavier Roth, Karl Jenkins, Ravi Shankar, Kent Nagano and Elgar Howarth.