Beating the Orchestra drums, sounding the Cymbals, shaking the Castanets - Delco percussionist does all this and more
nlike most musicians in the Philadelphia Orchestra, Angela Zator Nelson of Media does not play one instrument such as the violin or cello. Instead, as a percussionist, she is adept at playing an array of instruments, even though her primary one is the timpani.
Drums, cymbals, xylophone, vibraphone, marimba, glockenspiel, tambourine, cymbals and castanets are all in the repertoire of the Delco percussionist.
Of course, Nelson doesn’t use all these instruments for any one concert. Instead, the focus is usually one just one or several instruments, depending on the works on the program. .
For instance, when the orchestra performs the “The Planets” by Gustav Holst in concerts on November 2-4, Nelson will be performing on her primary instrument, the timpani. It’s a type of kettle drum, which is played by striking the head of the drum with a timpani stick or mallet.
Holst’s popular piece is a suite in seven movements, each one named for a different planet. It is especially challenging for timpanists.
“It has a double timpani part,” said Nelson, the orchestra’s associate principal timpanist. “We’re using four drums each.”
Her partner in this double timpani role is Don Liuzzi, principal timpanist.
The challenge for both is not just playing four drums It’s also keeping up with the frequent changes in pitch.
“The pitch changes multiple times during each movement, so the big challenge is tuning the drums,” explained Nelson, noting that they’ll be using foot pedals to do this.
Now in her 19th season with the orchestra, Nelson is quite familiar with “The Planets.” The orchestra performs it almost every year.
“And it’s a challenge each time,” said Nelson. “Not only because of the tuning, but because we need to be synchronized as we play. ”
The versatile percussionist will be using two other instruments when the orchestra presents a program titled “All American: Gershwin and Beyond” to be presented Nov. 24-25, It features two works by the famed composer, “Promenade” and “Piano Concerto in F”.
Nelson especially enjoys the piano concerto because it calls for mallet instruments, the glockenspiel and xylophone.
Percussion—this time drums- will be especially featured in concerts December 7-9 when the program includes a work by Leonard Bernstein which is specifically titled “Serenade for Solo Violin, Strings, Harp and Percussion.” And the percussion involves snare drum, bass drum and tenor drum.
Nelson is always eager to perform a work by Leonard Bernstein.
“He loved to highlight the percussion,” she said. “And his music is so melodic. It’s exciting and fun to play.”
When she joined the orchestra in l999, Nelson was the first female percussionist and she is still the only one. She’s one of four members of the percussion section. The others are Liuzzi, Anthony Orlando and Chris Deviney.
Even before she joined the orchestra, Nelson was acquainted with a former member of the section. When she was pursuing her Master’s degree in percussion performance at Temple University, one of her teachers was Alan Abel, then a percussionist with the orchestra.
When he retired, a position opened, and Nelson was one of the candidates. The selection process was rigorous, including a series of auditions. The candidates were narrowed down to two finalists, and after yet another audition, Zator was offered the coveted position her former teacher had held.
But that was almost 20 years ago. By now, she’s had extensive experience with percussion instruments. No wonder that at home in Media, a finished basement which serves as studio is packed with hundreds of instruments.
They are not only for Nelson but for her husband David, who is also a percussionist. He freelances for varied musical organizations and also teaches in the music department at West Chester University.
Their home is also shared with three young daughters. Alexsis, 8 and twins, Natalie and Kayla, who just turned 6. The girls enjoy listening to their parents practice at home.
And all three daughters attend several orchestra concerts each season as well as summer concerts in Delco.
“Their favorite classical piece is ‘Nutcracker,’” said Nelson. “They love dancing to it because they are dancers, too.”
Their mother also does a “dance” of sorts when she’s performing with the orchestra at the Kimmel Center. There’s a choreography of sorts with the percussionists.
Unlike the other musicians who are anchored to their seats, Nelson and her three section members often move deftly from one drum to another. Or, while standing in one place, they strike the xylophone, shake the castanets or lift their arms high to sound the cymbals.
It all seems effortless, but each concert involves hours of preparation for all the orchestra members. A typical week involves rehearsals Tuesdays through Thursdays, and then at least three weekend performances at the Kimmel Center.
For Nelson, that has added up to numerous concerts during 18 seasons. She still looks forward to every concert- and still feels deeply grateful to have her place in this orchestra.
“It’s been almost twenty years,” she said. “And being a member of this world famous orchestra still feels like a dream come true.”