SPU’s Percussion Ensemble will perform on Tuesday, March 11, 7:30 p.m. in the E.E. Bach Theatre located inside of McKinley Hall on the SPU campus. The ensemble is directed by Instructor of Percussion Dan Adams.
The Percussion Ensemble’s winter concert will feature a diverse collection of ethnic and contemporary works. The SPU Flute Choir, directed by adjunct music faculty member Sandra Saathoff, will open the concert with a few selections.
The ensemble begins their part of the program with "Rhythms of the Mask" featuring "Kakilambe" - protector against evil spirits, and "Sorsornet" - bringer of good luck. These rhythms are from the traditional Baga Ethnic Group of the Boké region of western Guinea in Africa.
The next piece is "Sharpened Stick" by Brett William Dietz, a contemporary work for five multiple percussionists playing an array of instruments including graduated tom toms, cymbals, woodblocks, graduated brake drums, conga drums, bongo drums, and snare drums. The piece is a Native American war song and dance that is in the "fish step" style.
Freshman Carter Vliem will perform Bach's Suite 1 on marimba.
Also on the program is "Tahitian Sequence," a collection of traditional dance rhythms from the South Pacific performed on log drums, Pahu, and Fa'atete drums.
A beautiful and haunting "Postludes for Bowed Vibraphone" by Elliott Cole will feature four players on one vibraphone, each with two bass bows.
Concluding the program will be David Gillingham's “Paschal Dances” for 12 percussionists and piano. It is based on the first of two lines of the famous Gregorian Easter sequence, "Victimae paschali laudes" (Praises to the paschal victim.)
The event is free and open to the public. To request disability accommodation, contact 206-281-2272, TTY 206-281-2224, or dss@spu.edu.
Posted: Monday, January 1, 0001