Meet MMSF percussionist Matthew Brett
You’re one of the Philharmonia’s MMSF Instrumental Fellows for the 2022/23 season – what has that involved so far and what’s coming up in the next few months?
There really are so many amazing things to get involved with! I’ve had the opportunity to watch concerts and sit in on rehearsals, as well as getting individual lesson time with my Mentor, Paul. There have also been fantastic CPD sessions, including working on presentation skills and learning about music education. Coming up, I have the chance to perform with the Orchestra, get involved in the Learning & Engagement programme, and perform solo recitals across London.
There’s a huge percussion section in Mahler’s Symphony No. 6 – could you introduce us to a few of the more unusual instruments?
Mahler was a master of using unusual percussion to create wonderful effects and colours, and this symphony is no exception. Cowbells can be heard across the symphony, with the tinkling said to evoke the image of a distant valley. Mahler also writes for rute, essentially bundles of twigs or dowels bound together and used to strike the side of the bass drum. The most memorable instrument in this symphony is undoubtedly the hammer, alleged to represent a blow of fate. You definitely can’t miss this one!
How do you prepare for an orchestral performance like this one, outside orchestral rehearsals? How easy is it to practise at home?
Home practise is always tough as a percussionist, simply because it’s hard to find the space. For me, the majority of the preparation comes in the form of listening to lots of different performances and studying the score. This helps me to really know the music inside out. If I can’t access the proper instrument, I’ll then take to air drumming, or construct my own out of pots and pans!
How many percussion instruments do you own? Do percussionists bring their own instruments to rehearsals and performances?
I’m lucky enough to own a variety of instruments. These are mostly small percussion instruments such as shakers, tambourines and a snare drum, but I also have some larger ones too, such as a xylophone and marimba. Sometimes, I’ll need to take instruments to work with me, but major orchestras such as the Philharmonia often own their own instruments that they provide for us.
Which is your favourite instrument to play, and which do you find most challenging?
It’s always so hard to pick a favourite instrument as there is infinite choice. I’m currently loving the snare drum, because it’s such a diverse instrument that takes on so many roles in the orchestra. It might surprise you, but I think the most challenging instrument is the triangle. For such a simple instrument, it really can produce so many different colours and it adds such a special touch to the music. I could spend years experimenting with all the tones of the triangle!
What concerts would you recommend from the rest of the Philharmonia’s London season?
I’d definitely recommend the performance of Sibelius’s Symphony No. 1 on 26 February. This is one of the first symphonies I ever played and it remains one of my favourites. The music is simply beautiful and it’s a real rollercoaster of a piece. As a biased percussionist, I’d also recommend Romeo and Juliet Forever on 23 March, where the Philharmonia are performing Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. There are so many instruments for the percussion section to get their hands on, and it’s always great fun to watch!
