Multi-GRAMMY® nominee-Christopher Cerrone’s new album is a decade-long journey through sound, collaboration, and innovation. From the first sketches of Goldbeater’s Skin in 2015 to the final touches on Ode To Joy in 2023, these works reflect his deep connection and friendship with Sandbox Percussion.

Opening with Don’t Look Down (2020), a work born during the pandemic, the album blends traditional percussion with found objects and prepared piano and, when premiered by Sandbox Percussion and pianist Conor Hanick, was described as ‘exhilarating’ by The New York Times. A Natural History of Vacant Lots (2017) explores space and sound, positioning ambient and beautiful colors against a haunting electronic backdrop. The centerpiece, Goldbeater’s Skin (2016), pairs percussion with the human voice in a stunning setting of GC Waldrep’s poetry.

The album closes with Ode to Joy (2023), a bittersweet celebration of New York City, filled with whistles, harmonicas, and stomping rhythms. Every unique sound on this album was meticulously crafted, shaped by Cerrone’s longtime collaborator and producer Mike Tierney.

Don’t Look Down is a bold exploration of the endless possibilities of percussion and a testament to the evolving power of music and collaboration. 

“Over the years, I’ve composed multiple works for percussion quartet, all of which Sandbox has either premiered or performed. What draws me to this formation is its inherent freedom—unlike a string quartet or wind quintet, a “percussion quartet” implies little beyond four trained percussionists. The possibilities are boundless.”

 

– Christopher Cerrone

 

 

“This collection is a testament to nearly 20 years of friendship between Christopher Cerrone and the four of us in Sandbox Percussion. Chris and I met in school in 2005, and I was instantly drawn to his music. Chris has a way of expressing emotion in his work that I had never experienced before, and I was struck by the honesty in Chris’s writing”

– Ian Rosenbaum, Sandbox Percussion

TRACKLIST:

Christopher Cerrone (b. 1984)

Don’t Look Down Don’t Look Down

1 I – Hammerspace (4. 46)

2 II – The Great Empty (5. 26)

3 III – Caton Flats (6. 14)

4 A Natural History of Vacant Lots (9. 01)

Goldbeater’s Skin

5 I – Apocatastasis (2. 46)

6 II – Interlude 1 – Wood (2. 12)

7 III – In My Dream (1. 51)

8 IV – Interlude 2 – Metal (1. 48)

9 V – My Companion and I (4. 07)

10 VI – Interlude III – Skin – Fatal Exception (1. 58)

11 VII – Against the Madness of Crowds (4. 12)

12 Ode to Joy (9. 42)

 

Sandbox Percussion

Conor Hanick, piano

Elspeth Davis, mezzo-soprano

SANDBOX PERCUSSION & CHRISTOPHER CERRONE ALBUM RELEASE PARTY

February 12, 2025 | 7:30pm–8:30pm

 

Yale Schwarzman Center will host a celebratory gathering in its on-site pub, The Well, with a short performance from the artists, a talk moderated by composer and professor Christopher Theofanidis and a complimentary CD for each attendee. See here for more information or contact us if you would like to attend.

Christopher Cerrone (b. 1984, New York) is internationally acclaimed for his compositions. His work is characterized by a subtle handling of timbre and resonance, a deep literary fluency, and a flair for multimedia collaborations. Cerrone’s music balances lushness and austerity, immersive textures and telling details, dramatic impact and interiority. His three-time GRAMMY®-nominated compositions are utterly compelling and uniquely his own.

Described as “exhilarating” by The New York Times and “utterly mesmerizing” by The Guardian, the GRAMMY®-nominated ensemble Sandbox Percussion champions living composers through its unwavering dedication to contemporary chamber music. In 2011, Jonathan Allen, Victor Caccese, Ian Rosenbaum, and Terry Sweeney were brought together by their love of chamber music and the simple joy of playing together; they have since captivated audiences with performances that are both visually and aurally stunning. In 2024, Sandbox Percussion became the first percussion ensemble to be awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant.

One of the leading classical music labels in the world, PENTATONE presents a diverse range of world-class artists, and is dedicated to premium quality productions captured in exceptional sound. The label works together with today and tomorrow’s leading artists to provide timeless recordings of core, fringe, and lesser-known repertoire, with its uncompromising attention to the best possible quality in artistry, design and recording technology.