Russell, Armand

Armand Russell

Biography

Born: June 23, 1932

Country: Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.

Studies: University of Washington (B.A.1953, M.A.1954), Eastman School of Music (D.M.A.1958)

Teachers: George McKay, John Verrall, Bernard Rogers, Howard Hanson

Website:

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Armand Russell was born in Seattle, Washington in 1932. He received the Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Washington with a major in music composition and the Doctorate in music composition from the Eastman School of Music. He studied composition with John Verrall, George McKay, Bernard Rogers, and Howard Hanson. Professionally, he played the double bass in symphony orchestras including the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops Tour Orchestra, the Rochester Philharmonic and Civic Orchestras, and the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. He also taught as a visiting professor at the Eastman School of Music. Dr. Russell’s career at the University of Hawai’i Music Department spanned from 1961 until his retirement in 1994 as Professor Emeritus.

While at the University of Hawaii he taught music theory and composition and served as Chairman of the Music Department for seven years. Under his leadership, the department earned national accreditation by NASM (National Association of Schools of Music), and the graduate program was expanded. He was a prolific composer whose output included many works for double bass and percussion in solo, chamber and concerto formats. Some of his frequently performed published works include the Pas de deux for clarinet and percussion, Sonata for Percussion and Piano, Suite Concertante for tuba and woodwind quintet, Theme and Fantasia for band, Chaconne for double bass and piano, Buffo Set for double bass and piano, and Harlequin Concerto for double bass and orchestra (or piano), and several works for chorus. Dr. Russell now lives in Santa Rosa, California.

Works for Percussion

Alborados - Multiple Percussion; Oboe
Ascension - Multiple Percussion
Ballad with Epitaphs - Multiple Percussion; Voices (2)
Bright Ritual - Multiple Percussion; Flute; Clarinet
Concertato - Percussion Trio
Concerto No. 2 - Multiple Percussion; Percussion Quintet
Duality (Russell) - Vibraphone; Alto Saxophone
Duo Sonatine - Percussion Duo
Duologue - Percussion Duo (Mar./Vibes)
Encounters with Time - Percussion Duo; Piano
Ephemerons - Multiple Percussion; Clarinet
Equinox Sonata - Marimba
Facets for Percussion - Multiple Percussion
Fantasia - Xylophone; Piano
Fantasia and Rondino - Percussion Trio
Figments (Russell) - Timpani
Formlets - Percussion Trio (Vibraphones)
Gemini Concertino - Percussion Duo; Piano
Gemini Variations - Percussion Duo; Piano
Gestures (Russell) - Percussion Trio
Laudation - Multiple Percussion; Horn
Lion's Breath - Multiple Percussion; Double Bass
Matrix and Strata - Multiple Percussion; Flute; Double Bass
Night Images - Marimba
Partita (Russell) - Snare Drum
Pas De Deux - Multiple Percussion; Clarinet
Percussion Suite (Russell) - Percussion Trio
Prelusions - Vibraphone; Clarinet
Rondo (Russell) - Xylophone; Piano
Scherzo (Russell) - Bass Drum
Sonata for Percussion and Piano - Multiple Percussion; Piano
Tempus Fugit - Percussion Trio
Tetra - Percussion Quartet
The Aklos of Elras - Multiple Percussion
The Celonas - Marimba; Clarinet
Tricératops - Percussion Trio; Piano
Trio Ritmico - Percussion Trio
Two Archaic Dances - Mallets (Vibraphone or Marimba); Piano
Zoomorphs, Homage to Kandinsky - Multiple Percussion; Trombone; Trumpet in C