So Percussion

Sō Percussion
Members of Sō Percussion play at the Miller Theatre in New York in February, 2020
Members of Sō Percussion play at the Miller Theatre in New York in February, 2020
Background information
OriginBrooklyn, New York
GenresPercussion
LabelsCantaloupe Music
Nonesuch Records
Thrill Jockey
Brassland Records
New Amsterdam Records
MembersJosh Quillen
Adam Sliwinski
Jason Treuting
Eric Cha-Beach
Past membersTim Feeney
Todd Meehan
Douglas Perkins
Lawson White
WebsiteOfficial Site

Sō Percussion is an American percussion quartet formed in 1999 and based in New York City.

Composed of Josh Quillen, Adam Sliwinski, Jason Treuting, and Eric Cha-Beach, the group is well known for recording and touring internationally and for their work with composers such as Steve Reich, David Lang, Caroline Shaw, Bryce Dessner, Julia Wolfe, Vijay Iyer, Fred Frith, Angélica Negrón, Nathalie Joachim, Dan Trueman, Tristan Perich, Paul Lansky, Claire Rousay, Shodekeh Talifero, Leilehua Lanzilotti, Steven Mackey, Kendall K. Williams, Shara Nova, Martin Bresnick, Oscar Bettison, Olivier Tarpaga, Evan Ziporyn, and Arvo Pärt. Originally formed when the members were students of Robert van Sice at the Yale School of Music, the group also continues to play works from the standard repertoire of percussion ensemble music—including works by composers such as John Cage, Julius Eastman, Pauline Oliveros, George Crumb, and Iannis Xenakis. In addition to their work with composers, the members of Sō Percussion produce original music, including large scale evening-length works.

The group is also known for their use of non-standard instruments and found sounds in performance and on recordings, such as scrap metal, rocks, flower pots, and an amplified cactus.[1][2]

Sō Percussion has released albums on Cantaloupe Music, Nonesuch Records, Thrill Jockey, Brassland Records, and New Amsterdam Records. The group endorses Zildjian, Vic Firth, Remo and Pearl/Adams.[3][4][5][6]

  1. ^ Sparrow (2008-04-29). "Aluminum Pipes & Amplified Cactus". Chronogram Magazine. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  2. ^ Smith, Steve (2010-03-26). "Cooking Timers, Golf Tethers, Windup Toys: It's All Rhythm". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
  3. ^ Schweitzer, Vivien (2007-07-20). "It Makes a Great Sound; Just Watch out for the Spikes". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  4. ^ Schweitzer, Vivien (2007-03-26). "Bang on a Board: Sophisticated Music for Primitive Instruments". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  5. ^ Lowenthal, Kevin (2005-03-28). "Percussionists Lay Down Reich's Elaborate Beats". The Boston Globe.
  6. ^ "The Joyful Noise of Flower Pots, Tea Cups, Brake Drums". The Boston Globe. 2006-12-04.