1961
On July 13, 1961, during the Eleventh Workshop – Concert at the Hubbard Auditorium(MSM), Max Neuhaus performed the New York Premiere of Walter Anslinger’s Suite for Percussion (1961).
Technical Breakdown
In this performance with the Paul Price Percussion Ensemble (PPPE), Neuhaus managed a complex multi-instrumental station that required both rhythmic and melodic precision:
- Metallic Percussion: Suspended cymbal and Gong.
- Mallet Percussion: Vibraphone and Marimba.
Context of the Work
Anslinger’s Suite is a three-movement work (Introduction and Fugue, Song, and Fanfare) designed to exploit the diverse tonal colors of a modern percussion section. By assigning Neuhaus to both the vibraphone and marimba, Paul Price highlighted Neuhaus’s skill as a "keyboard" percussionist—a mastery that would soon lead to his renowned solo interpretations of Stockhausen's works.