The NAU School of Music will present the NAU Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Steve Hemphill<\/b>, in concert on Friday, April 25. The free concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. in Ardrey Memorial Auditorium.<\/p>\n
The concert will feature guest composer\/performer and NAU alumnus Josh Gottry<\/b>; a guest percussion ensemble from Coconino High School; a guest percussion duo Avenue Deux with alumni Julianne Layton<\/b> and Chris Vennel<\/b>; and the NAU Panorama Steel Pan Ensemble.<\/p>\n
Opening the concert will be Brett Dietz\u2019s Sharpened Stick, a highly energetic quintet based upon a Native American war song and dance.\u00a0From legendary jazz pianist Chick Corea, Children\u2019s Songs – Set 2<\/i> will be heard as arranged for two vibraphones and two marimbas.\u00a0The Coconino High School ensemble will perform Jim Casella\u2019s Technology<\/i> for large ensemble.<\/p>\n
The premiere of Steve Hemphill\u2019s Canyon: 6 Portraits<\/i> will feature the pairing of projected images of regional natural canyons with multicolored sonic portrayals by a percussion sextet.\u00a0 The guest duo, Avenue Deux, will perform Purity 2<\/i> (2012) by Tomasz Goli\u0144ski\u2014a first-time performance at NAU.<\/p>\n
J.B. Smith’s Slap Shift<\/i>\u00a0will bring playful Afro-Cuban grooves to a dancing intensity, as played by six \u201ccongeros\u201d in synchronized conga drum rhythms.\u00a0A highpoint of the evening will be the introduction of Josh Gottry\u2019s quintet, Woodwork, for four marimba players and solo cajon (box drum), which will be performed by Gottry.\u00a0This just-completed work was composed for the NAU Percussion Ensemble.<\/p>\n
To cap off the night, NAU\u2019s Panorama Steel Pan Ensemble will perform three popular tunes: the beautiful bossa nova, Wave <\/i>(by Antonio Carlos Jobim), and two spritely calypsos from Trinidad, Mama Look a Boo Boo<\/i> and Wine on a Bumsee<\/i>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"