soloist

Solo Marimba, Concerto, Percussion Artist

Rod is an experienced soloist giving concerts on solo marimba, vibraphone and/or multiple percussion. His repertoire ranges from transcriptions of classical music to contemporary works, and tailors his concert programming to fit the preferences of his audiences.

He is available now for concert bookings.

Solo Marimba

Rod is an experienced solo marimbist with a diverse repertoire of music from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Contemporary eras. He is known especially for his original transcriptions of music written for other instruments by composers such as J.S. Bach, John Dowland, Isaac Albeniz, Claude Debussy, Chick Corea, and many more.

His programming ranges from light classics to contemporary repertoire and creates custom programs to fit audience preferences.

He performs with an expressive, emotive and energetic style that invites audiences inside the spirit of the music.

Concerto

Rod is has performed numerous solo concerti with orchestras as well as wind ensembles. He is particularly well known for his interpretations of Ney Rosauro‘s marimba concerto, which he has recorded to critical acclaim.

His repertoire also includes concerti for multiple percussion and timpani, and continues to expand with this ever growing canon.

He commands the stage with a powerful presence that realizes the full effect of the music.

Percussion Artist

His solo repertoire is not limited to the marimba. He gives concerts and recitals that include works for solo vibraphone, multiple percussion, snare, drum and timpani – the full range of percussion instruments.

This repertoire, of course, is more contemporary as compared to much of his solo marimba repertoire, and aligns well with new music concert programming.

Rod’s repertoire also includes a growing set of his own original compositions, giving his performances a personal connection that resonates with audiences.

Bio

Rod Thomas Squance is quickly gaining recognition as one of Canada’s most exciting musicians. A stunning soloist, Rod captivates audiences with his perfect blend of compelling musicianship, sparkling technique, and exotic sound. He has performed with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Project, Paquito de Rivera, Dong-Won Kim, Kojiro Umezaki, Yu Hongmei and Prafulla Athalye.

Rod has appeared on national radio and television, solo recitals and with many orchestras. Classically trained, Rod also plays jazz vibraphone, Balinese gender wayang and Indian classical music. He currently teaches at the University of Calgary.

See complete bio in the Soloist Media Kit page.

His programming ranges from light classics to contemporary repertoire and creates custom programs to fit audience preferences.

Repertoire

Solo Marimba

Transcriptions of works for other instruments

Isaac Albéniz    Asturias

Isaac Albeniz    Cordoba

Isaac Albeniz    Mallorca

J.S. Bach    Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major

J.S. Bach    Cello Suite No. 2 in D Minor

J.S. Bach    Cello Suite No. 3 in C Major

J.S. Bach    Cello Suite No. 4 in Eb Major

J.S. Bach    Cello Suite No. 5 in C Minor

J.S. Bach    Cello Suite No. 6 in D Major

J.S. Bach    Lute Suite No. 3 in G Minor

Chick Corea    Children’s Songs

Claude Debussy    Arabesque No. 1

Carlo Domeniconi    Koyunbaba

John Dowland    Lachrimae: Flow My Tears

Solo Marimba

Transcriptions with piano accompaniment

Camille Saint-Saëns    Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso

Fritz Kreisler    Tambourin Chinois

Vittorio Monti    Czárdás

Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov    Flight of the Bumblebee

see also repertoire under “Concerti”

Concerti

J.S. Bach    Violin Concerto in A Minor

Christos Hatzis    Tongues of Fire

David Maslanka    Concerto for Marimba

Darius Milhaud    Concerto for Marimba and Vibraphone

Darius Milhaud    Concerto for Percussion

Ney Rosauro    Concerto No. 1 for Marimba

Ney Rosauro    Concerto No. 2 for Marimba

Ney Rosauro    Concerto No. 1 for Vibraphone

Solo Marimba

Works composed for marimba

Keiko Abe    Dream of the Cherry Blossoms

Keiko Abe    Frogs

Keiko Abe    Memories of the Seashore

Keiko Abe    Michi

Keiko Abe    Prism

Keiko Abe    Wind in the Bamboo Grove

Michael Burritt    October Night

Alfred Fissinger    Suite for Marimba

David Maslanka    My Lady White

David Maslanka    Variations on Lost Love

Joseph Schwantner    Velocities

Eric Sammut    Four Rotations for Marimba

Leigh Howard Stevens    Rhythmic Caprice

Solo Marimba

Compositions for marimba with piano accompaniment

William Cahn    In Ancient Temple Gardens

Clair Omar Musser    Scherzo Caprice

see also repertoire under “Concerti”

Solo Vibraphone

Antonio Carlos Jobim (arr. Burton)    Chega De Saudade

Ney Rosauro    Prelude and Blues

Multiple Percussion, Snare Drum and Timpani

William Cahn    Nara

Elliott Carter    Eight Pieces for Four Timpani

Mitch Markovich    Stamina

Rod Thomas Squance    Sonata for Timpani

Karlheinz Stockhausen    Zyklus

Iannis Xenakis    Psappha

He commands the stage with a powerful presence that realizes the full effect of the music.

Recordings

 

The following tracks are from Rod’s solo marimba album, Koyunbaba: The Transcriptions. All tracks on this album are Rod’s original transcriptions of works originally written for other instruments, including piano, guitar and lute. Repertoire includes four of Chick Corea’s Children’s Songs, J.S. Bach’s Lute Suite No. 3 in G Minor, Isaac Albeniz’s Cordoba and Mallorca, Carlo Domeniconi’s Koyunbaba, and John Dowland’s Lachrimae.

 

These tracks are from Zeugma: improvisations spontané, Rod’s collaboration with Michalis Andronikou, playing the bouzouki, a Greek plucked lute. The album is the fruit of two days recording sessions of spontaneous, unplanned duo improvisations. The result is a beautiful collection of pieces for listening.

Contact

Please send me a message, I’d love to hear from you. Click on the button below to go to the contact page where you can send me a message.