Stanley Sprenger Leonard (born September 26, 1931[1]) is a timpanist, composer and educator who has been active in the percussion world for over seventy years. While Principal Timpanist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for 38 years (1956-1994), he performed internationally with the symphony in concerts, television productions, and recordings."[2] The Christian Science Monitor claimed, "...his performance of the solo part establishes him as perhaps the finest timpanist in the country."[3] As a solo artist, he premiered several major new works for solo timpani and orchestra with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. In a review of "Celebrations—An Overture for Timpani and Orchestra," the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said, "Leonard played it superbly, imparting a singing line to this most unvocal instrument."[4] In 2010, he was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame, where they summed up his musical contribution: "Leonard has left an indelible musical footprint for musicians, especially percussionists."[5] He is currently resident timpanist, composer, was handbell director at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church, Naples, Florida, and continues to compose and teach master classes.
He has composed more than two hundred six pieces for percussion instruments, including timpani, timpani and organ, snare drum, and percussion ensemble. His compositions for percussion, voice, choral, piano, violin, and handbells are listed in "An Annotated Bibliography of Percussion Works by Stanley Leonard."[6] He also composed method books, including Pedal Technique for the Timpani.[7] This book's unique method helps the timpanist develop a total concept of timpani performance by producing kinesthetic confidence, achieved by educating foot and leg movements in conjunction with the stroke of the stick, while also focusing on the pitch being tuned.
At Carnegie-Mellon University (1958-1978), he taught percussion, timpani and percussion ensemble. As Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Duquesne University (1989-2001), he taught timpani and conducted the percussion ensemble. He has taught clinics and master classes at schools across the US, including Curtis Institute of Music, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, University of North Texas College of Music, and Eastman School of Music.
He wrote three articles published in Percussive Notes.[8][9][10]
"The Kettledrumer's Art" appeared in the August 2023 edition and can be viewed on stanleyleonard
You can view an interview with Stanley Leonard titled A Musical Life on YouTube.[11]
1943–1949
1945-1950
1946-1949
1948–1950
1950–1951
1951-1954
1953-1954
1952–1954
1955–1956
1956-1994
Date | Composer | Title of composition | Conductor |
---|---|---|---|
1958 | Milhaud | "Concerto for Percussion and Small Orchestra" | Steinberg |
1964 | Tharichen | "Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra" (American premier) | Steinberg |
1973 | McCulloh | "Symphony Concertante for Timpanist and Orchestra" (world premier) | Johanos |
1981 | Panufnik | "Concertino for Timpani, Percussion, and Strings" (American premier) | Previn |
1984 | Premru | "Celebrations" (world premier) | Previn |
On the CDs Canticle, Collage, Acclamation, and Reunion, Leonard directs and performs his compositions for percussion. Retrospections features his music and music by Brett W. Dietz. All CDs are available through the Sibley Music Library. Also directly from Stanley Leonard at www.StanleyLeonard.com
You can find the compositions listed here on ASCAP or in the Sibley Music Library.