Michael Hejka performed his graduate percussion recital Friday for an overwhelming audience of family members and friends.
Five pieces were performed, featuring Hejka on marimba and vibraphone. Some guest artists included William Marr on the euphonium, Brad Bower and John Nipper on the marimba and crotales, and Teddy Roberts, Jeff Brooks and professor John Dorsey on multi-percussion.
Each piece had a different style but Hejka performed them all with an air of effortlessness. The recital started with the stage bare except for a marimba and a lit music stand. The dark room was silent until Hejka entered from behind the antique curtain to applause.
The first piece was Druckman’s “Reflections on the Nature of Water.” The title really gave the piece a sense of structure. There were quiet runs in the beginning that sounded like tiny raindrops falling. The six-movement piece was full of energy and musicality. It was obvious Hejka had been preparing for the recital for months.
The second piece, Jobim’s “Chega de Saudade,” was a departure from the expected with its upbeat melody and quick tempo. Played on the vibraphone, the piece had a much different sound from the others. Hejka had the piece memorized, which made the performance even more spectacular to watch.
The third piece, Takemitsu’s “Raintree,” featured Hejka, Bower and Nipper playing an intense trio with two marimbas, vibraphone and crotales. The piece started with light notes from the crotales followed by swelling notes from Hejka on the vibraphone.
The rising and falling dynamics and chromatic runs made the piece sound like a dream sequence. They did a great job of listening to each other and watching for cues. This piece could not have been performed as well as it was without dedication and meticulous practice.
Censhu’s “A Tribute from the East” was an interesting duet, a combination not heard often. The euphonium and the marimba worked well together, trading off melodies and providing full harmonies when the other had a solo line.
The last piece, Miki’s “Marimba Spiritual,” was by far the crowd pleaser. With three separate performers playing multi-percussion and Hejka soloing on the marimba at the front of the stage, the piece was full of excitement and energy.
The three background players performed a combination of high-pitched instruments (crotales and triangles) and deep sounds (horizontal bass drum and toms-toms). Hejka provided the melody for the piece with impressive runs and expression. Hejka had the extremely technical piece completely memorized, which only added to the excitement.
The support of Hejka’s family was apparent, as many were present in the audience. He will be graduating with a Master of Music Performance degree at the end of April.
