Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present the SFA Percussion Ensemble, directed by Dr. Brad Meyer, performing its annual spring concert at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
The concert - "Pieces for a Crowded Stage" - is so titled because all the compositions being performed are either for small chamber ensembles (five performers or less) or use multiple performers playing on one instrument, according to Meyer.
"'Trio per Uno' by Nebojša Zivkovic is an exciting and raucous trio that has all three performers surrounding a single concert bass drum played horizontally," Meyer explained. "Each player performs interlocking rhythms between the shared bass drum and the metal instruments located between the players."
John Tadlock, sophomore music education major, will be the featured, marimba soloist on Andy Harnsberger's "Palmetto Moon." Harnsberger describes the piece by saying, "imagine yourself on a beach with your favorite person in the world. The moon is out, the stars are bright and you can hear the water rolling into the shore."
Another selection, "Dopplegänger," by Brian S. Mason, is "sure to leave the audience in chills" with its rhythmically driving marimba parts played by six percussionists on two marimbas facing each other, Meyer said. Other percussionists play bongos and act out a rhythmic battle between each other, which includes combative gestures.
Also on the program is Mark Ford's "Stubernic," which is a marimba trio played on one marimba. Meyer commented, "the piece will finish the concert off with its high intensity and exhilarating theatrics as the musicians try to avoid each other while rapidly rotating around the instrument."
To find out more information about the SFA Percussion Studio, visit/subscribe/"like" their online presence at:
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/SFAPS
- Website: www.Brad-Meyer.com/sfa
- Twitter/Instagram/Vine/Tumbler/Pinterest: SFAPercStudio
Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.