in 2014, i recorded delécluse: douze études for snare drum. and it was epic.
delécluse is the most important percussion composer in the history of maybe ever, and he deserves a slightly taller statue than beethoven in this regard. that's why, when i found out that no one had ever recorded his most-played piece, douze études for snare drum, i was shocked and i immediately recorded it in video and audio.
and when i say 'immediately,' what i mean is that i spent 7 months practicing and agonizing over the iconic set of études, flew to miami and recorded them at the new world symphony. here's why it was awesome:
- no one had ever recorded it before.
- it was the 50th anniversary of the pieces
- i interviewed delécluse himself.
- i traveled around france and interviewed some of france's elite snare drummers and delécluse scholars.
- i released a blog every day before the album came out, and the whole thing was called the 12 days of delécluse.
- i made some useful products that go along with the album that can help you learn the études, like stickings and click-tracks.
most of all, i created something that my 14-year old self could have really used, back when he had no idea what a delécluse étude should sound like.
let's get into it.
check out the 12 days of delécluse
everyone who plays percussion has to learn delécluse études. but how are you supposed to play them? what's the french style of snare drumming? are they famous everywhere, or just in the united states?
these were the questions i asked while i was preparing the études. so i traveled to france to find out.
watch the douze études
i recorded the douze études in the performance hall at the new world symphony in miami beach, florida. in 11 angles. in HD audio and video. in two days.
and you can watch études 1 + 9 right now.
purchase delécluse products
if you're learning a delécluse étude, you'll have to put in a sh*tload of work. there's no way around it. but i want to offer a jumping-off point, especially to people who are learning an étude for the first time.
i made a suite of products to help students learning delécluse études. check them all out.