The Shippensburg University Percussion Ensemble closed off this semester’s concert series with a bang, holding its indoor concert on May 4 in the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center.
The show began with “Escape Artist” and “Clave & Sons” by Eric Rath. “Escape Artist” featured the main melody trading back and forth with the xylophone and glockenspiel, as “Clave & Sons” featured sophomore Bailey Cassada performing the melody on the xylophone. The piece also featured two sections of music like today’s music.
Next, the percussion ensemble featured a non-pitched quartet, performing “Fire” by Pete O’Gorman. The piece featured students junior Drake Myers, senior Keric Ellis, sophomore Bryce Fisher and junior Matt McAneny. Continuing on from “Fire,” “Mercury Rising” by Nathan Daugherty is considered to be a standard in the percussion ensemble repertoire.
The last three pieces the percussion ensemble performed inlcuded: “Fractalia” by Owen Clayton Condon, featuring senior Matthew Zemba, junior Cassie Oakes, sophomore Bailey Cassada and director Aaron Trumbore; “Again” by Arnor Chu, featuring senior Emily Slothower and director Aaron Trumbore; and “Bomba É” by Rolando Morales-Matos. “Fractalia” brings audience members on a kaleidoscopic journey as the performers manipulate musical time to create intricate rhythms and melodies.
“Again” gave listeners a sense of safety and home, with the song mainly staying in a major key. “Bomba É” featured all the members of the percussion ensemble with some members taking solos.
This was the first ever percussion ensemble concert at Shippensburg University. There are already plans in the works for next year’s concert.
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