Student msuic majors performed various styles of percussion instruments during the Percussion Ensemble and Percussion Methods Ensemble on Monday, Nov. 13. Students explained that the different styles of music performance during the night led back to the roots of the cultures associated with the respected instruments.
Jacob Summerville/ The Lion's Roar
Audience members had the opportunity to hear the variations of several percussion instruments during the Percussion Ensemble and Percussion Methods Ensemble.
The department of music and performing arts put on the Percussion Ensemble and Studio Recital in Pottle Auditorium on Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. The recital included several group and solo performances that showed the works of composers including Mark Ford, Mitchell Peters and Nathan Daughtrey.
Junior music major Carmen Vessel discussed the general practice routine.
“For the recital, we all practiced quite often,” said Vessel. “We normally meet twice a week, as well as practicing during our own free time.”
The recital started with a group performance playing a piece called “Vous Avez du Feu?” by Emmanuel Séjourné. Four solo performances were scattered throughout the program as well. Music graduate student Yosub Woo, freshman music major Tanner Reese and freshman music major Brandon Miranda soloed on the marimba while freshman music education major James Kennedy soloed on the snare drum.
Senior music major Evan Lapeyrouse explained why percussion tends to be difficult to learn.
“The biggest challenge is knowing all of the techniques for the many instruments that are included in the percussion world,” said Lapeyrouse. “Along with the techniques, you have to know so many styles and ways of playing the instruments. Almost each instrument is played in a different style because of the different ethnic origins of most of the percussion instruments.”
The recital ended with a group performance called “A La Samba” by Mitchell Peters, a deceased member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
Some attendees shared aspects about the recital that interested them.
“To be honest, I usually don’t go to other people’s recitals, but I always go to the percussion ones because they do different styles of music,” said junior music major April Sutton. “It’s really interesting, and it had a lot of newer, contemporary works.”
Freshman nursing major Allie Revere shared her thoughts on attending her first percussion recital.
“I though it went really well,” said Revere. “I was really impressed. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I though it was really amazing. It actually kind of made me want to learn an instrument.”
Vessel explained how she got involved with the music.
“I think that what sparked my interest in music was a singer by the name of Karen Carpenter,” said Vessel. “I remember seeing her in a movie of her life on ‘Lifetime Movie Network’ whenever I was maybe four or five. Her voice gave me goosebumps as a 5-year-old. She also played drums, that was the cherry on top.”
Williamson was also influenced by music at a young age.
“I'm not 100 percent certain what sparked my interest in music, I’ve just always enjoyed it,” said Williamson. “As far back as pre-K, one of the things I remember most was the music day where we got to play various toy percussion instruments. In elementary school, music class was always my favorite. I joined the band the earliest I possibly could in fourth grade and stuck with it ever since.”
