The Midi-mallet controller is a keyboard instrument with a chromatic series of pads which one can strike with sticks, mallets or hands. The Keys/pads are larger than a piano keyboard to accommodate this difference. The current controllers on the market today are: MalletKat (Alternate Mode), Malletstation (Pearl), Xylosynth (Wernick), and Marimba Lumina (Absolute Deviation).
Midi was developed as a way for different electronic music or non-music instruments to communicate. Its applications range from controlling sound samples, to triggering specific events, to controlling lights or other programmable media.
This project is focused towards young players (High School or College Students) who are interested in learning more about how to use electronics whilst still playing with mallets in their hands. More experienced players, new to MIDI-mallet controllers and electronic software like Ableton Live, will also benefit from these pieces! The Etudes are intended to be short, utilise electronics and fun to play and listen to.
The collection of etudes is always expanding and contributions/suggestions are very welcome.
ABOUT THE INTIATOR:
Lee Forrest Ferguson is no stranger to diversity, having played Bossa Nova, Irish Folk, Rock, Heavy Metal, and Jazz Fusion, as well as Baroque and Classical chamber and symphonic music.
As a performer of new music, Lee works mostly in solo and chamber music genres, and plays with the Holst Sinfonietta, the New Music initiative, Suono Mobile, and is one half of duo Contour. A founding member of the Black Forest Percussion Group, he instigated in 2016 their performance of Steve Reich’s Drumming. He collaborates with percussionist/composer Michael Kiedaisch, flutist Helga Zuccaro, the sound artist, Ephraim Wegner, pianist/improviser/composer Thomas Wenk and the dance group, Silent Cosmonauts Kollektiv. Committed to the dissemination of new music, Lee has conceived music education projects such as Paper Music and Spielzeug Music.
He is a percussion instructor at the Jugendmusikschule Südlicher Breisgau in Staufen and Musikschule Südschwarzwald in Waldshut-Tiengen, Southwest Germany.
