PULLMAN – The WSU Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Professor David Jarvis, will present its fall concert entitled “Tradition” at 8 p.m. Nov. 27 in Kimbrough Concert Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.
The ensemble will perform traditional works for percussion ensemble including “Ionisation” by Edgard Varése. This historical work, composed between 1929 and 1931, is noted for being the first important work for percussion ensemble. The work requires 13 players performing on over 40 percussion instruments including anvils, sleighbells, sirens, various gongs and cymbals and the string drum (known as the lion’s roar).
Other pieces will include “Three Brothers” (1951) by Michael Colgrass and “The Swords of Moda-Ling” (1957) by Gordon Peters. Both of these works are considered repertoire in the percussion ensemble literature.
The second half of the concert will be devoted to the holiday tradition. The ensemble will perform special mallet arrangements of “Deck the Halls” (a traditional Welch folk song), Franz Gruber’s “Silent Night” and “Coventry Carol” (16th century English carol). These traditional songs are scored for four marimbas, giving them a unique sound.
The concert will close with an arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” entitled “Nutcracker Sweets,” a melodic theme from the ballet that has become so popular during the Christmas holidays.
As a final surprise, children will enjoy spotting one of the musicians at the event. “There will be an appearance from a special guest from the North Pole at the end of the concert,” Jarvis said.
