soniChroma

For more than 16 years, Quey [“Kway”] Percussion Duo (QPD) has dazzled audiences worldwide with their unmistakable style that blends traditions of Western percussion, “world,” contemporary, classical, and popular music to create colorful sound worlds that often place focus on interlocking counterpoint and musical multi-tasking. In other words, breathtaking and virtuosic.

This recording is a small selection of the many works written for the duo over the past 16 years, which have been created through three large commission contests and by working directly with composers.  Two of the titles represented on the recording are winning compositions from the group’s composition contests in 2005 (In the History of Man) and 2012 (Rhapsody for Vibraphone and Marimba).  In addition, many works composed by duo member Gene Koshinski were written specifically for QPD, two of which are represented here on this album.

The most prominent composition is the double percussion concerto entitled, soniChroma, recorded here with full orchestra. As the title suggests, soniChroma (meaning “sound color”), is focused on creating unique sonic and instrumental combinations. This can be seen throughout the orchestra, but prominently in the large percussion solo setup which contains over 80 instruments, including skins, metals, woods, strings (guitars), non-Western instruments, and found objects. The solo parts reflect the diverse performance demands of the 21st Century percussionist, ranging from classical percussionists, drum set players, keyboard soloists, contemporary multi-percussionists, and world music performers.

Comprised of members Gene Koshinski and Tim Broscious, Duluth-based QPD has performed in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Jordan, the UK, and extensively throughout the US.  They have worked with music festivals, art galleries, chamber music series’, conventions (including 4 PASIC appearances), professional orchestras, and have engaged in more than 50 university residencies worldwide. They also can be heard in the score of the award winning short film The Passage, which was premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018.  

As new music advocates, the duo has generated nearly 200 new works and has collaborated with renowned composers including Pulitzer Prize winner John Luther Adams, Emmanuel Séjourné, Alejandro Viñao, Stuart Saunders Smith, Adam Silverman, David Macbride, David Gordon, Ben Wahlund, and Dave Hollinden.