When most people think of percussion instruments, they think of the rhythm section of any band, the backbone. However, on Thursday night, percussion took center stage at the Daniel Recital Hall, and created some surprisingly beautiful and fun music.
“Eye Irascible,” composed by Steve Riley, started the concert. This song had a range of emotion, but mostly one of panic stood out. Toward the middle this song, it transitioned into a soft tune that was reminiscent of the wind. This piece made it apparent that percussion is not only for the beat, but is capable of melodies and can hold its own against any orchestra.
The next song, “Sleep,” was composed by Eric Whitacre, and arranged by students Jake Nilson, Jackson Lai, Jeff Ramos and Jazper Saldana. This piece was played on four Xylophones and sounded like a lullaby. It was an amazingly tranquil piece that was played masterfully. The performers had an amazing amount of control when playing. They hit the keys with the right amount of force every time, and came out with perfect harmonies.
Three performers took the stage for the next piece, titled “Trio Per Uno,” which was composed by Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic. This song had a tribal quality to it. It was fast-paced, and at some points it was played in complete unison.
“Valse Brillante,” another Xylophone piece, composed by George Hamilton and arranged by Bob Becker, was played by five musicians. This group was led by student Patrick O’Konski. If there ever was a classical song composed in the Caribbean this is what it would sound like. The complex music had O’Konski working hard to get to all the keys in time, and the mallets he used to play the music were blue blurs in the wake of the notes being played.
Axel Clarke, a Cal State Long Beach professor and alumni, composed the song “Bombasticus Cacophonosaurus.” The performers were freshmen, and this was their first performance. The song started with a strong and powerful sound, and ranged from soft to intense throughout.
The most entertaining piece of the night was titled “Cylindrophonicities,” and was composed by Spencer Dorn, another CSULB alumni. This piece was played by five performers. The instruments were called boom horns, which are colorful tubes that are all different sizes, and each produce a single note when hit against a hard surface.
The five players were in charge of about five notes for each movement in this piece, and when all the notes came together, it created an amazingly different and interesting sound.
The last two pieces of the night titled “Hook,” composed by Graham Fitkin, and “Equal Fire,” by Paul Bissell, were also fun and interesting. “Hook” was a toe-tapping piece that was played by four musicians on Xylophones. “Equal Fire” was a piece played on wooden blocks and other instruments. At some points, it sounded like birds chirping.
The musicians in the Percussion Ensemble showcased their talent and passion for this music. The pieces played were all beautifully performed and proved that percussion instruments aren’t only for the beat, but can also make complex music.
