Dietz, Brett William

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Composer Name

Biography

Born: 1972

Country:

Studies: Bachelor of Music in Percussion & Master of Music in Composition/Theory (Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University); Doctorate of Music (Northwestern University)

Teachers: Jack DiIanni & Andrew Reamer & Stanley Leonard & Michael Burritt

Website: www.BrettWilliamDietz.net

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Brett William Dietz is Assistant Professor of Percussion at the Louisiana State University School of Music. He is the music director of Hamiruge (the LSU Percussion Group). Dietz is in demand as a clinician and soloist throughout the United States and abroad. Recent performances have taken him Paris, France (perKumania International Percussion Festival), Bongkok, Thailand (College Music Society International Conference), and Genral Roca, Argentina (Patagonia International Percussion Festival). He has performed at several Percussive Arts Society International Conventions and is a founding member of the Tempus Fugit Percussion Ensemble. TFPE has performed throughout the United States and Europe and has released two compact discs (Tempus Fugit and Push Button, Turn Crank) that have received great critical acclaim. Dietz’s new compact disk, Seven Ghosts was released in 2006. He performs with and conducts Hamiruge on Stanley Leonard’s new recording Collage and also performs on Michael Burritt’s newest release, Waking Dreams.

An avid composer, Dietz's music has been performed throughout the United States, Europe, East Asia and Australia by numerous ensembles including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, National Wind Ensemble, Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, River City Brass Band, Northwestern University Wind Symphony, Louisiana State University Wind Ensemble, Duquesne University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the University of Scranton Wind Symphony, the Northwestern University Percussion Ensemble, Ju Percussion Ensemble, Malmo Percussion Group, and the University of Kentucky Percussion Ensemble. His compositions have been featured at the 1998 College Band Directors National Association Eastern Division Conference, and the 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 Percussive Arts Society International Convention. Dietz's composition, Pandora's Box received its New York Premiere at Carnegie Hall by the National Wind Ensemble conducted by H. Robert Reynolds. His opera Headcase was premiered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Called “haunting and powerful – a remarkably sophisticated score that blends words, music and visual displays to touch the heart and mind” by the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, the opera relives the story of the stroke Dietz suffered in 2002.

He was a recipient of the 2005 Merrill Jones Young Composers Band Composition Contest, the 2002 H. Robert Reynolds Composition Contest, 3rd Place Winner of the 2002 Percussive Arts Society Composition Contest, and the 2001 Pittsburgh Foundation Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts. His composition five-0 for brass quintet received an award from WFMT (Chicago Classical Radio) and was premiered live on the air as part of the station's 50th anniversary (2001).

In addition to his work at Louisiana State University, he has also served on the music faculties of Duquesne University, Westminster College (New Wilmington, PA), and the Merit School of Music in Chicago. Dietz endorses Dynasty Percussion, Zildjian Cymbals, and Innovative Percussion.

Works for Percussion

Percussion Solo

Glockenspiel

Alive Sophia, Dead Sophia, Zombie Sophia

Vibraphone

Apranibita
Broken

Marimba

Madison's Unicorn
Metamorphosis
No Screws Required

With Piano

Origin of Savagery - Glockenspiel & Vibraphone & Marimba + Piano
Parable - Glockenspiel + Piano
Urban Precision - Vibraphone + Piano

Percussion Solo with Percussion Ensemble

Camp Stanton - Drum Set & Percussion Quintet
Five Gestures - Snare Drum & Percussion Quartet
Panic - Marimba & Percussion Quartet
Samsara - Marimba & Percussion Sextet
Uneven Surfaces - Timpani & Percussion Ensemble

Percussion Solo with Wind Ensemble

Concerto for Marimba and Wind Orchestra (Dietz)
Concerto for Percussion and Symphonic Band
Rivers Will Flow Concerto for Three Percussionists and Wind Ensemble
The Principle of Polarity - Vibraphone

Percussion Ensemble

All That Is Left - 12 Players
Captured by Industry - 16 Players
Damaged Goods - 6 Players
D.N.R. - Percussion Quintet
Fanfare for the Return of Shadow - Percussion Octet
Sharpened Stick - Percussion Quintet
Particle Man, Hommage a Edgard Verése - 13 Players
Street Fight - 2 Players
With Age Comes - 5 Players

Mallet Percussion Ensemble

Sanctus Bells - Glockenspiel Quartet
The Principle of Vibration - Marimba Quartet

With Other Instruments

Chant With Bells - Glockenspiel & Tuba
Alternate Route - Marimba & Clarinet
Fever - Cornell & Alto Saxophone
If I Had A Heart - Chimes & Mezzo Soprano
Not One Sparrow - Vibraphone & Flute

Books for Percussion

Concert Fantasies for Snare Drum
Concert Fantasies for Keyboard Percussion (Book 1)
Concert Fantasies for Keyboard Percussion (Book 2)
Perfect Circles: 12 Intermediate Pieces for 4 Timpani
Reflex: 15 Studies for the Intermediate Multi-Percussionist
Songs from the Infinite Plane: 15 Intermediate Duets for Vibraphone & Marimba
Die Glöcke
9 Miniatures & a Fantasy