Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas 鈥揟he 91直播 Percussion Ensemble at Stephen F. Austin State University will perform a concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11, in Cole Concert Hall on the 91直播 campus.
Directed by Dr. Brad Meyer, director of percussion studies for the 91直播 School of Music, the student ensemble will perform works by Caleb Pickering, Ney Rosauro, Lynn Glassock, Nathan Daughtrey and Casey Cangelosi.
Pickering describes his 鈥淧owder Keg鈥 as a high-energy keyboard quartet scored for two vibraphones and two marimbas. He writes, 鈥淭he work is explosive in nature (pun intended) and shifts between rhythmic and harmonic stability and instability throughout, with the main motives remaining mostly intact and as a common thread throughout.鈥
Freshman Kevin Schultz of Wichita Falls is featured on marimba on Rosauro鈥檚 Prelude No. 2 written as a homage to the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa Lobos, who Rosauro says continues to inspire and motivate him to 鈥渨rite music with Brazilian roots.鈥
Glassock鈥檚 鈥淟ayers鈥 is a programmatic composition that explores the use of layered textures, rhythms and melodies. Through the use of staggered entrances of repeated musical material, Glassock 鈥渃reates an auditory kaleidoscope for the audience to experience,鈥 according to Meyer.
Two works by Daughtrey, 鈥淓ncantata鈥 and 鈥淟imerick Daydreams,鈥 are on the program. 鈥淓ncantata鈥 features Palestine junior Briley Patterson on vibraphone. The piece is based on harmonic material from the first movement of the composer鈥檚 Concerto for Vibraphone. The title (meaning 鈥渆nchanted鈥) is derived from the poem 鈥淟a Luz Encantada鈥 (鈥淓nchanted Light鈥) by Pablo Neruda. Daughtrey writes, 鈥淲hile the piece is harmonically very chromatic, it is filled with beautiful, memorable melodies that attempt to capture the wonder of this poignant poem. The slow and rubato nature of 鈥楨ncantada鈥 is a very different representation of the poem than the vibe concerto, which is very bright and sparkling.鈥
鈥淟imerick Daydreams鈥 was the second-place winner of the 2005 Percussive Arts Society International Composition Congest. The 12-minute work scored for 10 percussionists is based on the Irish reel, 鈥淗ighway to Limerick.鈥
Junior Kurt Swisher of Tyler is featured on marimba on Cangelosi鈥檚 鈥淪econd Character,鈥 which is described as 鈥渇ull of life and energy.鈥 Cangelosi includes markings such as "fury" and "with fire" in the score to help give the performer added incentive and inspiration to bring this piece to life during each performance, according to program notes.
Concert tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the 91直播 Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit .