Performers, from freshmen to graduate students, played a wide variety of marimba, vibraphone and drum solos at a performance of Professor John Dorsey’s Percussion Studio recital Wednesday night in the Alexander Recital Hall.
The favorite piece among many of the studio members was graduate student Cary Kocher’s rendition of J.S. Bach’s “Suite in E Minor for Lute.” The six-movement marimba solo was performed using four mallets, a task that takes a great deal of practice and precision.
Brad Bower, who performed a multi-percussion piece entitled “Partita” and a four-mallet marimba solo, “Wind in the Bamboo Grove,” said, “I loved [“Suite in E Minor”], because it sounded very fluent and effortless. It’s a hard piece to play on the marimba, because it is supposed to be played on a lute.”
Bower, who has been playing percussion for eleven years, began his four-mallet practice in his freshman year of high school. His marimba solo by Keiko Abe showcased great technique and balance. His expressive use of dynamics and tempo changes made the piece outstanding to listen to.
Bower also performs with the EMU Wind Symphony and the Percussion Ensemble.
Although 10 of the 15 pieces were performed on solo marimba, the recital was full of energy.
Many audiences do not get the pleasure of seeing four-mallet pieces performed, so it was a treat to hear so many played in one concert.
Julie Glick, who has been playing percussion since the seventh grade, performed a two-mallet marimba solo entitled “Suite No.1 for Solo Cello” by J.S. Bach and did a great job of taking a piece that was not originally written for solo marimba (as alluded in the title) and making it unique.
Because this was the only song performed with only two mallets, it immediately stuck out, but Glick did a great job with the musicality of the piece.
“I’ve been preparing this piece since January,” Glick said. “It takes a while to get everything just how I want. I didn’t want to perform it until I knew I could perform it exactly as I imagined.”
Glick is also a member of the EMU African Ensemble and previously performed with the Symphonic Band.
Brian Young performed three exciting snare drum solos, all of which showcased his extraordinary technique and skill; his buzzed and double-bounce rolls were expertly delivered.
During his last piece, Eugene Novotney’s “A Minute of News,” his drum stand began to slowly descend, something that looked almost staged.
While the stand continued to fall, Young crouched down in order to continue playing his solo without interruptions.
It wasn’t until after the concert that the audience realized it was not supposed to happen.
The ability to literally “roll with the punches” is just another one of Young’s talents.
Many of the performers from the recital will also be playing for a Percussion and African Ensemble concert 7:30 p.m. Monday in Pease Auditorium.
