51ĀŅĀ× Percussion Ensemble presents music from around the world
Photo courtesy of: 51ĀŅĀ× Percussion EnsembleThe members of the 2017-2018 51ĀŅĀ× Percussion Ensemble.
The School of Music and the 51ĀŅĀ× Percussion Ensemble will present a free concert of music for percussion from around the world at 7:30 p.m. Glidden Recital Hall at 51ĀŅĀ× on Thursday, April 19.
Directed by Professor Roger Braun and graduate teaching assistants Forrest Yankey and Ryan Swanson, the concert is a diverse program featuring music from Uganda, Brazil, Japan and China, plus music inspired by musical traditions from India, Ghana, Indonesia and the Middle East. The concert includes three pieces for the Embaire Xylophone, a giant 21-key instrument constructed for 51ĀŅĀ× by the Nakibembe Group of the Basoga region of Uganda. Soloists appearing in the concert include graduate student Jack Barry performing a concerto for darabukka and the 51ĀŅĀ× saxophone quartet, The fOUr, performing Roger Braunās piece, āIndependent Streams.ā
The Percussion Ensemble members are Seth Alexander, Jack Barry, Josh Cleland, Jake Evans, Ryan Garrett, Garrett Greene, Ryan Harrison, Alex Johnstone, Adam Jones, Sean Lally, Reuben Miller, Mason Oaks, Savannah Schuring, Morgan Sieg, Ryan Swanson, Kyle Turner, Austin Walsh and Forrest Yankey.
The 51ĀŅĀ× Percussion Ensemble performs a wide variety of innovative and influential music composed for percussion instruments. Performances by the ensemble have been featured at national and international conventions as well as schools and universities throughout the region. The ensemble also received excellent international reviews for its performances of Tan Dunās āElegy: Snow in Juneā and Lou Harrisonās āConcerto for Violin and Percussion Orchestraā recorded on the CD āSticks and Stones: Music for Percussion and Strings,ā released on Equilibrium Records.