Performances will highlight SFA's percussionists
April 8, 2013
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The SFA Percussion Ensemble will present its spring concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA Campus.
The SFA Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Brad Meyer, director of percussion studies at SFA, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in a concert that will feature pieces for chamber percussion and large ensemble percussion. Groups will perform pieces such as Bill Alves' "Gandrung" for three people on one marimba performing in a gamelan style with two people on one side and one on the other, Meyer's "Your Three Favorite Colors" for multi-percussion quartet, and Brian Nozny's "Purdy's Maze" for marimba quartet.
"The event is the SFA percussion studio's spring concert," Meyer said, "and it will be an exciting follow up of the recent concert featuring composer/performer Christopher Deane."
Meyer commissioned Andy Harnsberger, director of percussion studies at Lee University for a "large ensemble percussion work with use of limited instrumentation." As a result, Harnsberger composed "Revolver" for eight percussionists playing on only a few drums of varying sizes. "Revolver" was recently premiered at the Kentucky Percussive Arts Society's "Day of Percussion," which was organized and directed by Meyer on March 2.
"The piece is both theatrical and exciting, and it is sure to be something people will continue to talk about after the concert," Meyer said.
Additionally, Steven Reiss, La Porte graduate student earning a master's degree in conducting, will be the timpani soloist on Eric Rodis' percussion concert, "Colossus."
At 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 19, Meyer will present his own faculty recital featuring a program of works for marimba, vibraphone, timpani, snare drum and multi-percussion. Also on the program are two jazz pieces, including "Blues for Gilbert" by Mark Glentworth and "The Köln Concert, part IIc," originally performed by the famous pianist Keith Jarrett, which was then transcribed by world-renown guitarist Manuel Barrueco. Meyer will also perform Deane's "Dis Qui Etude," which utilizes common paint stirrers from the local hardware store that have been modified with rubber stoppers and masking tape to create numerous sounds on the vibraphone.
These concerts are a presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Music. Tickets for each are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $2 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.
