The HSU Percussion Ensemble plays “Paschal Dances” by composer David Gillingham, described by director Eugene Novotney as “haunting and beautiful, and at other times highly rhythmic and brutal. It is a true masterpiece of the contemporary percussion repertoire.” This piece is scored for piano and a dozen percussionists playing a host of instruments, including marimbas, vibraphones, xylophones, chimes, bells, timpani, snare drums, bass drums, tom-toms, cymbals, croatales and tambourines.
The Ensemble also performs works by Amadeo Roldan, Ed Argenziano, David Mac Bride, as well as Novotney’s composition “Searching,” performed on a quartet of “tube-o-phones,” instruments that Novotney designed and built based on metallophones of the Balinese Gamelan.
The HSU World Percussion Group closes the first half of the show with Samba music played on indigenous instruments from Brazil.
Then the evening belongs to the Calypso Band, featuring the high-energy dance music of the Caribbean Carnival known as Panorama. The main work will be the U.S. steelband premiere of Boogsie Sharpe’s composition “Pan Army,” as transcribed by Novotney, who played it with Sharpe’s band (the Phase II Pan Groove) for the 2010 spring carnival in Trinidad. Founded in 1986, the Calypso Band is continuing the celebration of its 25th anniversary.
The Calypso Band and Percussion Ensemble perform on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 8 p.m. in the Van Duzer Theatre on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $7 and $3 students and seniors, with free tickets to the first 50 HSU students, from the HSU Box Office (826-3928) or at the door. Directed by Eugene Novotney and Howard Kaufman, produced by the HSU Music Department. HSUMusic.blogspot.com.