REConnected is the most significant project driving Daniel’s creative work. It introduces audiences to Canadian music featuring percussion as its prominent voice, and complements these compositions with other exceptional music for solo percussion by international composers. REConnected provides an authoritative portrait of Canadian music supported by context and commentary, and brings to widespread audiences some of the percussion world’s most exhilarating music.
A view from the stage at the Barber Centre for Fine Arts in Birmingham, UK
Friends and colleagues, Owen Underhill and Russell Hartenberger, joined Tones for REConnected’s first international tour in 2015, and Underhill has continued as Tones’s collaborative partner. In addition to “Cloud over Water,” written for Tones in 2009, Underhill has composed two “Songs without Words” for REConnected in 2015 and 2017, and a 20-minute, multi-movement, theatrical work for percussion, ocarina, and melodica called “A/Symmetry Ritual” (2018).
Daniel performs at the Beast FEaST in Birmingham, UK
Chris Brannick, Daniel Tones, Owen Underhill, and Russell Hartenberger at the entrance to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, UK
REConnected’s largest projects have included international tours to the UK in 2015 and 2017. During these trips, Tones and Underhill performed recitals and evening concerts, gave masterclasses, seminars, and private coachings, and adjudicated a competition. Collaborative performances with post-secondary students in London and York were also highlights of these overseas visits. REConnected has been hosted by the University of Birmingham, the BEaST FEAST, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Leeds College of Music (two visits), Newcastle University, the Royal Northern College of Music, the Trinity Laban Conservatoire, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of York (two visits).
View from the stage at the Barbican’s Milton Court Concert Hall in London, UK
REConnected at the University of York in York, UK
Closer to home, REConnected has performed at Douglas College (February 2020); the University of British Columbia (March 2019); the Canadian Music Centre (January 2019); as part of the Orion Series in Fine Arts at the University of Victoria and in celebration of the School of Music’s 50th anniversary (January 2018); at Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Music@Midweek series (October 2014); and at a special concert celebrating Underhill’s 60th birthday organized by the Novo Ensemble (January 2014). A collaboration with Wen Wei Wang has been a beautiful outgrowth of REConnected’s work. Together Wang and REConnected have twice performed “A Song without Sound” (2015 and 2016) featuring the music of Underhill and choreography by Wang.