NEC Percussion Group
The NEC Percussion Group (NECPG) performs music that is largely centered around the unique and never-ending possibilities within the percussion world, as well as being augmented by extra-percussion musical offerings and instruments.
This year's concert selections will include both fiery and introspective works that will represent established pieces in the repertoire as well as recently composed "ink still wet" pieces. NECPG concerts always bring the fascinating combination of the aural and the visual aspects of music-making.
This performance is open to in-person audiences, and can also be viewed below via livestream.
- NEC Percussion Group
- Will Hudgins, director
Casey Cangelosi, Tom Hilliker | Metavita
Program note
Metavita is a creative work from the imaginations of Cangelosi and Hilliker. Scored for three snare drums played with brushes with LED lights attached, this work is an aural and visual delight. From the composer: “Metavita should be a drama of creation, life, growth and death. The LED lights represent fictional life forms. They begin, multiply, interact and end.”
Artists- Ross Hussong, Pei Hsien Lu, Rohan Zakharia, snare drum
Bob Becker | Mudra
Program note
Mudra is a piece from the legend that is Bob Becker. A player of renown, co-founder of the percussion group Nexus and member of Steve Reich and Musicians, Becker’s compositional skills are on display here. A major work for percussion quintet, Mudra is an example of how Becker fuses military drumming style within the context of Hindustani practices. He employs both the tactics and melodic constructions that come from North Indian Classical music. Within this frame, Becker uses western drums in a tabla-like fashion but employs rudimental ideas. The concept of building out of stasis in Hindustani music is used to establish a motif which builds on itself and sets up the sometimes chaotic presence of the snare drum, which focuses more on the melodic and soloistic functions of tabla drumming. Mudra also shows inklings of minimalism that is part of Becker's overall style. This work is a re-orchestrated version of a larger work called Urbhana Mudra, which was written as a percussion quartet with choreography.
Artists- David Uhlmann, Ross Hussong, Tennison Watts, Halle Song, Rohan Zakharia, percussion
Gene Koshinski | As One
Program note
A duo from the prolific pen of Koshinski, As One is a cleverly written journey through percussion sounds. Sharing a marimba and bass drum while employing drums of their own, the players imitate and mirror one another as they develop motives introduced through the work.
Artists- Halle Song, Parker Olson, percussion
Michael Laurello | Spine for Percussion Quartet
Program note
A commission from the Yale Percussion Group from composer Michael Laurello, Spine is an exciting and unique piece of percussion repertoire, employing unusual instruments and timbres. The composer comments on the work: “A single line runs through most of the piece, and virtually all of the musical material is derived from it. This meta-line, performed by Percussion 1, serves as the “spine” of the music (central nervous system)… Over the course of the work, players drift in and out of agreement with one another, and occasionally the primary line loses its unique identity within the texture. I tried to impart an almost biological sense to the way motives grow, attempting to balance intuitive, almost improvisatory, types of development with more structured patterns and processes.”
Artists- Steph Krichena, Parker Olson, Tennison Watts, Yiming Yao, percussion
Toru Takemitsu | Rain Tree
Program note
Rain Tree is one of the most performed percussion pieces in the genre, and we are fortunate to have this work in our repertoire. Takemitsu’s treatment of this instrumentation is legendary, as he brings out the nature of percussion sounds in his extremely personal style. Rain Tree employs two marimbas as well as featuring the soloistic vibraphone. Interspersed into the work are crotales that bring to mind droplets falling from fauna.
Artists- Taylor Lents, Ross Hussong, Pei Hsien Lu, marimba, vibraphone, crotales
David Friedman | Tell Me a Story (American Premiere)
Program note
David Friedman is considered to be one of the most influential vibraphonists in the history of the instrument. Internationally renowned as a vibraphonist, marimbist, composer and jazz educator, he has his own musical message, born of fascinatingly diverse musical influences. Having worked with such varied musical personalities as Leonard Bernstein, Luciano Berio, Bobby McFerrin, Wayne Shorter and Yoko Ono, few jazz musicians can claim as broad a spectrum of performing and recording experience. Tell Me a Story is a theater piece that is the result of a 2017 commission from the Landesmusikrat of Nordreinwestfalen. Here are words from the composer: “This work combines elements of satire, humor, sonic nuance and groove. The speaking parts should be delivered with theatrical elan…. Important is the development by each player to develop a personal performance concept within the context of the entire piece. It should be a joyful experience.” This performance is an American premiere.
Artists- Isabella Butler, Eli Reisz, Sabrina Nga Ieng Lai, Mark Larrivee, Doyeon Kim, percussion