Percussion Extravaganza Is On April 28

ALAMOSA (April 21) – The Adams State University Percussion Extravaganza begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, in Richardson Hall Auditorium.

The Adams State Percussion Ensemble will perform the works of Levitan, Rennick, Reich, Shostakovich, Trevino, Westlake, and more.

According to James Doyle, Adams State percussion director, the concert is in two parts and begins with traditional drumming of Ghana followed by a work by Daniel Levitan titled “Variations on a Ghanaian Theme.”

The concert then features freshman music education major Kevin Johnson on Paul Rennick’s work for soloist and percussion trio, “Slopes.” This piece was inspired by a lecture given in Aspen, Colo. by a University of Chicago physics professor regarding fractal geometry in nature and avalanche theory.

The Percussion Ensemble will also pay tribute to the drumming of the Caribbean with an original composition written by members of the ensemble.

The conclusion of the first half of the program will feature a special treat for young audience members- a work titled “Penguin Circus” by Nigel Westlake for film and percussion ensemble.

The second half of the program will take on a more somber tone as it features the Adams State Marimba Quartet’s adaptation of Dmitri Shostakovich’s emotional String Quartet No. 8, dedicated “In Memory of the Victims of Fascism and War.” The quartet recently traveled to Las Vegas to perform this work as special guests on a Program titled, “Creation, The UNLV Percussion Ensemble and Moving Light Lab” on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. This concert was a unique collaboration with the light design students and faculty at UNLV and percussion students and faculty from Adams State and UNLV.

Additionally, Steve Reich’s work, “Piano Phase” will be realized as “Vibraphone Phase” coordinated with the new lighting system in Richardson Auditorium.

Ivan Trevino’s popular work, “Catching Shadows” will conclude the ASU Percussion Ensemble’s performance. The concert closes with the ASU Brazilian Percussion Ensemble, “Tambores de Fogo,” fresh off a Four Corners tour supported and funded by The Music in the Mountains Classical Music Festival and Conservatory.

Admission is $5 for adults; $1 for students; and free to AS&F and Friends of Music. For more information contact the Adams State Music Office at 719-587-7621.