The New Jersey Percussion Ensemble directed by Peter Jarvis was founded in 1968 by Raymond DesRoches, who co-directed the group with Peter Jarvis and Gary Van Dyke until 2004. The highly acclaimed ensemble has been in residence at The New Jersey Percussion Ensemble directed by Peter Jarvis, now in its 40th year, was founded in 1968 by Raymond DesRoches. Because of the ensemble’s ongoing commitment to the proliferation of percussion repertoire, numerous pieces have been written for, premiered and recorded by the ensemble. The NJPE has appeared in numerous venues in the United States and Europe as guests the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the, Radio Group for Contemporary Music, the Composers Guild of New Jersey, the San Francisco Symphony, the Gaudeamus Foundation Denmark, and countless others. The group can be heard on Nonesuch, Composer's Recording Inc., Music and Arts, Koch International, Desoto, New World, NAXOS, the Composers Guild of New Jersey and Capstone recording labels.
The New Jersey Percussion Ensemble has been in residence at William Paterson University since 1972.
Peter Jarvis
Over the years, Peter Jarvis has played with and/or conducted any number of new music ensembles in New York, New Jersey and elsewhere. He enjoys an extensive touring career (international and domestic) as a soloist, chamber musician, clinician, and conductor appearing on, among many others, the “Europe Asia Festival” in Kazan Russia and the “Hong Kong Arts Festival” in Hong Kong and Taiwan. He was recently invited to conduct The Black Sea Lyric Opera Orchestra in Constan--a Romania during the spring of 2008.
He has performed countless premieres including over 100 compositions composed for him and/or the highly acclaimed New Jersey Percussion Ensemble which he directs. He can be heard on Nonesuch, CRI, Koch International, Composers Guild of New Jersey, October Music (for ECM), Capstone, NAXOS, and Gram recording labels among others. His compositions are published by Calabrese Brothers Music, LLC and he is a member of BMI.
According to New York Times, “Mr. Jarvis and his forces richly deserved the standing ovation they received.” The New Music Connoisseur recently (2007) noted: "While the new music scene abounds with percussionists, only a very few can match the awesome musicianship of Peter Jarvis."
Jarvis is on the faculty of William Paterson University and Connecticut College where he is Director of New Music, teaches percussion and conducts chamber music.
Selected Press Notices
"Peter Jarvis conducted the 40-minute piece (Percussion Symphony) without score, yet did full justice to it's rhythmic complexities; Mr. Jarvis and his forces richly deserved the standing ovation they received." - New York Times
"Certainly no one hears anything less than music of solid merit and performances of brilliant virtuosity. That surely describes the concert given by the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble." - New York Magazine
"Best of all was the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble, the country's pre-eminent such group of it's kind since it's inception in 1968. This muscular, energetic band of percussionists plays with a kind of unrestrained virtuosity, worthy of the best of today's chamber ensembles." - Newsday
"Best percussion group in the world." - Nieuwsbald van het Noorden, (Groningen, Holland)
"A mastery synthesis of avant garde percussion techniques." - Downbeat
"Peter Jarvis' reading (of Ionisation) was again restrained, emphasizing legato phrasing. In context of the other works on the program it was a touching statement to render this standard repertoire piece as if it were by a reincarnation of Mozart." - Classical New Jersey
"Excellent US group." - BBC.UK.COM, 2005
"Founded by Raymond DesRoches in 1968 and conducted by Peter Jarvis, the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble gained national prominence as a group of gifted musicians committed to the promulgation of 20-century percussion repertory." - The Reporter (California)
"The loudest approval went to the most radical work, John Cage's Third Construction, in a bristling, electric performance by the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble (Peter Jarvis, Michael Frasche, John Ferrari, Kenneth Piascik). One does not often hear so many shouted bravos from such a staid audience." - New York Times
"One cannot imagine better ambassadors for their music. Their ensemble playing was perfect in precision and physical presence." - The Christian Daily Newspaper (Copenhagen, Denmark)
"The New Jersey Percussion Ensemble is a national treasure. Nothing less can fairly describe this team." - The Star Ledger
"Were it not for concert protocol, there might have been dancing in the aisles to the music of Cage's Second Construction and Third Construction." - The Star Ledger
"That imaginative leap that distinguishes good music from routine." - Records and Recordings
"Scored for 26 players, the work's endlessly fascinating textures and rhythmic diversity will stimulate even the grumpiest conservative and Nonesuch's recording should shatter windows in the next county." - Los Angeles Times
"It was a power (NJPE, conductor Peter Jarvis) that went beyond mere shock value." - New York Times
"The New Jersey Percussion Ensemble is a first-class group, and the recording is very clear, bright, and faithful to the character of the various instruments. The two golden oldies more than justify acquisition if you have any interest in the genre."- High Fidelity
"Finally the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble gave a hugely exciting performance of Percussion Quartet." - New York Times
"It was delightful music played perfectly." - Asbury Park Press
"Recorded in an old theater in New Jersey, the album is a fine example of the recording art, a disc that should satisfy the most discriminating audiophile." - The Chattanooga Times, Chattanooga, Tennessee
"If you have strong ears and an open mind, don't miss this."- The New Records
"They proved extraordinarily vital, performing music that demands the utmost concentration as if it were in their veins, as undoubtedly it is." - News - Times
"The New Jersey Percussion Ensemble, conducted by Peter Jarvis, is a marvelous group of 24 musicians who play with a welcome sensitivity to the repertoire." - San Francisco Examiner
"Conducted by memory by Peter Jarvis. . . it is a riotous celebration of rhythm - colorful and even poetic." - New York Times
New Jersey Percussion Ensemble's Friend Space (Top 20)
Hi, I just wanted to let you know that my new album Afrikan Machinery is out now on Tzadik Records. Check out some of the tracks on my profile! You can buy the CD here, here, or here. It's also available on iTunes.
Best Wishes, Lukas Ligeti
hey pete, i was thinking about taking my drum class up to wpu for a composer in res or percussion recital hour one day. do you have a schedule of when the department will be doing those? thanks.
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