By Elisabeth Sandoval
College of Fine Arts and Communication Media Office
CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas Percussion Ensemble will be in concert Tuesday, Nov. 3, in the Snow Fine Arts Center Recital Hall.
The 7:30 p.m. concert is free and open to the public.
The ensemble will perform music by composers from the 20th and 21st centuries: “Second Construction” by John Cage, “Quick Blood” by Adam Silverman, “Variations on a Ghanaian Theme” by Daniel Levitan, “Whispers” by David Skidmore, “Normandy Beach 1944” by David Gillingham, “Drum Ceremony” by Karel Husa and “Used Car Salesman” by Michael Daugherty.
“‘Whispers’ is the largest work on the program,” said Dr. Blake Tyson, professor of percussion. “David Skidmore is one of today’s leading composers for percussion ensemble and also a member of Third Coast Percussion, an ensemble that was recently in residence at UCA.
“Michael Daugherty’s compositions pay tribute to American pop culture, especially that of the mid- and late 20th century. ‘Used Car Salesman’ is both a piece about the idea of the used car salesman, but also a direct tribute to his father who was both a dance band drummer and a used car salesman. In the piece, the performers not only play many different percussion instruments but also take on the roles of used car salesmen.”
UCA percussionists will make music with traditional instruments and non-traditional instruments, including tuned gongs from Thailand, brake drums from old cars, metal pipes, tin cans, prayer bowls from Japan, elephant bells from India and even a bucket of water.
“The percussion ensemble at UCA consists of about 20 music majors who are studying music education, composition, and performance,” Tyson said. “I’m lucky to work with so many great students. UCA Percussion Ensemble concerts are always exciting for me because I get to see and hear the amazing performances they’ve worked so hard to create.”
For more information, contact Tyson at (501) 450-5263 or btyson@uca.edu.
The UCA College of Fine Arts and Communication includes the Departments of Art, Communication, Mass Communication and Theatre, Music and Writing. The college’s primary mission is the preparation of the next generation of artists, educators and communicators. For more information about CFAC, visit www.uca.edu/cfac or call (501) 450-3293.
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