The Percussion Ensemble Spring Concert explores a beautiful combination of sounds from around the world. Students performed a variety of music by international composers on April 10 in Yeager Concert Hall. Percussion instruments include rattles, cymbals, gongs, hand drums, shakers, marimbas and more.
Ensemble director and music instructor Isaac Payatt focuses on the complexities of sound from different instruments to create harmony. He said that a talented musician can change any object to create beautiful melodies. Pyatt said he hopes it can transform students’ experiences and enhance their musical journey through percussion.
“It was a lot of energy and a lot of excitement, especially in the second half of the program,” Payatt said. “And very beautiful colors showing all the different sounds that can be produced by a percussion ensemble.”
Pyatt said percussion instruments have influenced his music career since the sixth grade. He pursued his passion in college to discover the vast possibilities that percussion could offer. Pyatt encourages students to learn about the different forms of chamber music.
“They can take their past musical knowledge, learn the technique and colors of the percussion instruments through playing this ensemble,” Payatt said. “As well as developing the impressions of the percussionists throughout their lives, developing their skills and having fun making music together with all these different musicians coming from all over campus.”
Freshman Jeanne Blau is a band scholar and has participated in many musical performances. She said the percussion ensemble offers a new challenge to improve her skills with these instruments.
“I really enjoy the music,” Blau said. “I think the percussion ensemble is a good way to get more into it. It’s a good challenge for me. Many pieces are more abstract or a bit more difficult. I enjoyed the hands-on connection with the tools that allowed me to improve my skills.”
Blau plays the gong on “Aurora Borealis,” which features a piece by American composer Marilyn Bliss. The score had a powerful, quiet and mystical aspect. Bliss explores the beauty and unpredictability of the Northern Lights with a mix of soft sounds. Blau said it was a great experience to pursue his interest in percussion.
“It’s a great way to start,” Blau said. “Everyone should play instruments because it’s super fun. It was a lot of practice and a lot of work. So I’m glad I did it and it feels good.”
Sophomore Joey Krucke is a music performance major who has been a member of the Percussion Ensemble for the past four semesters. For the ensemble’s spring concert, he was part of “Mitos Brasileiros,” featuring the work of Ney Rosauro. The music in this section shares a story from Brazilian folklore. Rosauro’s piece brings the characters to life with a mix of tantalizing, upbeat and exotic sounds from Brazil.
Krucke said growing up playing music influenced their passion for percussion.
“Music has been a very big part of my life for as long as I can remember,” Krucke said. “This is definitely a big passion of mine. I really love playing music, one of my favorite things is just going up to an instrument and playing it. I love getting the opportunity to be a part of these ensembles and contribute to them and be a part of that part of that sound.”
Krucke plays auxiliary percussion instruments such as xylophone, marimba and bongos. He said he is eager to participate in future ensembles – exploring the variety of sounds it has to offer.
Freshman Lexi Francis found this opportunity to bond with friends and learn more about percussion. She said it allowed her to develop musical skills beyond the trombone.
“It’s definitely my first time performing with a percussion ensemble,” Francis said. “It’s really just about having fun with people you’re friends with. It’s just about learning new things and having new experiences as part of the reason we play the music we do is because it’s more experimental. It allows us to sample a variety of music instead of just sticking to the same old instruments.”
