Backstage Pass: Mahler and more with Paul Stoneman

Mahler’s Sixth Symphony features two iconic hammer blows in the final movement. Is this often on a percussionist’s ‘bucket list’? 

Definitely! Playing the hammer doesn’t come around every day so it’s always a bit of a novelty… luckily I’ve had the chance to play Mahler 6 a few times before but it’s always exciting when you get the opportunity to play a couple more very loud bangs.

Mahler often uses a wide range of percussion instruments, and sometimes some unusual ones too. What should the audience listen out for this evening? 

There’s plenty to listen out for tonight-as well as the two hammer blows Mahler also writes for Almglocken (or alpine cowbells) which are played both on and off stage to evoke the world of the Austrian Alps. We also hear bass tubular bells which depict the sound of distant church bells. Of course there is the normal array of orchestral percussion too… side drum, xylophone, triangle and bass drum as well as plenty of cymbals crashes!

Can you tell us a bit more about your journey as a percussionist? 

I think I was about  9 or 10 when I started playing the drums… I’d taken up the violin when I was a fair bit younger and played in a few local music groups, but was always fascinated by the drums and percussion at the back, they all looked like they were having much more fun!

Do you have any standout moments from your career with the Philharmonia? 

I think one of the most prominent memories would be Mahler 9 with Herbert Blomstedt. That was a pretty special concert that will stick with me for a long time. More generally I’m lucky to have a few good friends in the orchestra and it’s nice to be able to go to work with them.

Which concerts are you most looking forward to in the rest of our season?

The standout one for me has to be Steve Reich’s The Desert Music with Santtu in February. We also have a chamber concert just before that concert performing Six Marimbas, Dance Patterns and Drumming Part 1 so that should keep us percussionists firmly on our toes!