Arts & Culture

Catch the Novelty of UK Percussion

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 30, 2011) − Join the University of Kentucky Percussion Ensemble for their spring concert 3 p.m. Sunday, April 3, in the Singletary Center for the Arts Concert Hall. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will feature a recently acquired collection of novelty percussion equipment. 

 

The concert will open with Adam Silverman’s 2009 work “Gasoline Rainbow,” but features some substitute instruments that were more common in vaudeville at the turn of the 20th century. The ensemble will perform on a set of tuned Swiss bells, vintage hand bells, a friction harp and tuned wine glasses among modern orchestral percussion instruments. These instruments are among a large collection of novelty instruments donated to the university's percussion program.  

Under the direction of James Campbell, the UK Percussion Ensemble will also perform Baljinder Sekhon’s new piece “Colored Windows, Tempered Rooms,” a work that the composer states is about "unity, diversity and community." Ben Stiers, a doctoral candidate in percussion, will lead the group in Stephen Andrew Taylor’s "Everywhere Entangled" a work inspired by Kim Stanley Robinson’s novel "Galileo’s Dream." In addition, the program includes “José/beFORe JOHN5” by Aurél Holló

To hear Professor Campbell talk about what makes percussion peformances unique, click on the play button below. 

 

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Click here to view a transcript of the video. 

Three-time winners of the prestigious Percussive Arts Society Collegiate Percussion Ensemble Contest, the UK Percussion Ensemble has performed at many esteemed musical events, including the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival, the Bands of America Percussion Ensemble Festival, and several Percussive Arts Society International Conventions.

To watch a video of the UK Percussion Ensemble performing"Varese's Ionisation" by Andrew Bliss, click on the play  button below.

For more information about UK Percussion Ensemble or the spring concert, call (859) 257-8187 or visit the ensemble's website online at www.uky.edu/FineArts/Music/ensembles/percussion/.

 

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, (859) 257-1754 ext. 229; Whitney.Hale@uky.edu