Pealer Recital Hall, PAC

Frostburg State University’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance will present its Percussion Ensemble, conducted by Dr. Mackenzie Jacob LaMont, on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU’s Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. Percussion Ensemble members include Gavin Baker, Jacob Deaver, Daniel Hicks, Jacob Hunt, Jacob Hutzell, Bella McConnell, Bernard Pitts, Joe Rubens and Covy Wohlmuth with a guest performance by Reiss Mikula.

The concert will include the unique piece “Bookoctet” by Alan Sentman. Eight players are given 50 or more books, some of specific size or construction, to create all the sounds of the work, including ripping, scraping, dropping, shaking, and even being read from. The piece is in three sections. The first is traditionally notated and is the most rhythmically specific. It begins with a unison figure from the entire ensemble. As the piece progresses, select players grab different books and play counter- rhythms that thicken the texture and create a sense of controlled chaos, like notated Cage music. These gestures are comprised mostly of triplets, sextuplets, and occasional grace-note figures, all of which are independent of one another. What follows is a significantly slower section that includes several sound experiments. Each player is instructed to create sounds with the books in unique ways, such as scraping a hard cover with fingernails, shaking an open book, blowing between two pages to make them whistle or buzz, and even destroying a book by “any means necessary.” The final portion requires the performers to read aloud from whatever books are near them, slamming them shut, then repeating the process in quicker succession. The piece ends with only two players reading single syllable words in low voices. (Note by Kyle Cherwinski).

The ensemble will also be performing “Dance of Black-Haired Mountain Storm” by Alan Hovhaness, a movement from Eric Ewazen’s “The Palace of Nine Perfections,” and “Gainsborough” by Thomas Gauger. Writer Michael Dooley’s description of “Gainsborough” states “[it] is a highly melodic, very popular percussion quintet written in three movements. The piece has been performed all over the world and remains a favorite because of its playful textures, demanding parts (especially for the time), and appealing tonality. The first movement is a sprightly dance in 9/8 that mostly features quick lines between two marimbas, with interruptions from the timpani and battery percussionists. The slow, hesitant second movement has a more modal and metallic sound, highlighting the bells and vibraphone. A jazzy recitative appears in the middle of this movement. The final movement is quick and rhythmically active with a healthy amount of call and response between different sections. It moves through several different styles, finishing with a flourish.”

Purchase tickets online at https://frostburgtix.universitytickets.com or through the University Box Office, Lane University Center 203 (Mon. – Fri. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.), phone 301-687-3137. Tickets will also be available at the door the evening of the concert. Price for credit/debit card purchase are $11.73 adult; $6.53 senior, military, FSU employees; and free for students and children. Cash purchase prices are $11 adult; $6 senior, military, FSU employees; and free for students and children.

For more information, contact FSU’s Department of Music, Theatre and Dance at 301-687-4109.

Music, Performance, Recital