[CAUT] percussion news

[Avery Todd]

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List,

A little off-topic but in case any of you are percussionists at heart 
(or in actuality), you might like to hear this CD.

Avery Todd
University of Houston

>NEWS RELEASE
>Office of External Communications
>
>PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE AT UH UPBEAT ABOUT DEBUT RECORDING, 'SURGE'
>New Compact Disc on Albany Records Features Contemporary 
>Compositions for Percussion
>HOUSTON, February 22, 2006 - No drum roll necessary. The wait is 
>over for the debut recording from the University of Houston's 
>Percussion Ensemble.
>
>Released on Albany Records, the compact disc "Surge" features UH's 
>very own internationally recognized percussion group under the 
>direction of Blake Wilkins, Moores School of Music (MSM) percussion 
>studies director. On the disc, the ensemble performs a selection of 
>contemporary compositions, as well as an update of the Ralph Vaughan 
>Williams' classic, "Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis."
>
>"This release brilliantly displays the talent that is being 
>generated within MSM's percussion studies program," Wilkins said.
>
>Recorded at the Moores Opera House, "Surge" premieres two 
>compositions from MSM's Percussion Ensemble Commissioning Project, 
>which promotes new works for the medium. Composed by Rob Smith, UH 
>professor of composition, the title track is an exotic, 
>jazz-influenced number emphasized by the xylophone, marimba and 
>vibraphone. The other track commissioned by this project is the 
>eclectic four-movement "Houston Strokes" by Donald Grantham, 
>professor of composition at the University of Texas at Austin.
>
>"Commissioning and premiering new works is one of the most rewarding 
>experiences, both for myself and for my students," Wilkins said. 
>"It's an amazing experience to take a new composition that, prior to 
>the first downbeat of the first rehearsal, has existed only on paper 
>and in the imagination of the composer, and then bring it to life in 
>sound for the first time. For me, it's a tremendous rush."
>
>"Surge" also includes Wilkins' "Melos," an extended, atmospheric 
>odyssey that experiments with bells and haunting melodies. "At the 
>Dawn of War," composed by UH alumnus and Houston percussionist Kevin 
>Erickson, offers a sonic interpretation of 9/11 and its aftermath. 
>Western Washington University Professor Bruce Hamilton's "Raptures 
>of Undream" is a pulsating, drum-heavy piece. And Wilkins' updated 
>arrangement of Vaughan Williams' "Fantasia" features the versatile 
>ensemble filling in marimbas and other keyboard-based 
>instrumentations for the composition's usual string section.
>
>"This is a unique collection of percussion works," Wilkins said. 
>"Each composition has its own distinct personality, but the tracks 
>all complement each other and their transitions are almost seamless."
>Wilkins arrived at UH in 1997 with the goal of creating a 
>world-class percussion ensemble, and in 2003, his group took top 
>honors in the prestigious Percussive Arts Society Percussion 
>International Ensemble Competition. This award led to a performance 
>at that year's Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 
>Louisville, Ky., which helped propel the group's reputation globally.
>
>"Winning this competition and performing before some of the foremost 
>percussionists of the world was indication that this ensemble had 
>truly arrived," Wilkins said. "Because the music we performed for 
>the competition had been rehearsed to the peak of perfection for our 
>convention showcase, and because the compositions themselves are so 
>extraordinary, producing a subsequent compact disc was a natural 
>outgrowth of winning the competition."
>
>Since arriving at UH, Wilkins expanded the number of percussion 
>students from eight to 25 undergraduate and graduate percussionists. 
>Students in the percussion studies program can receive the following 
>degrees: Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Music and 
>Doctor of Musical Arts.
>
>"There was a time when the concentration was more oriented towards 
>orchestral percussion, then it shifted its focus towards drums and 
>ethnic percussion," he said. "What we're doing now is somewhat more 
>comprehensive, diversifying the scope of percussion studies."
>
>One of the program's most popular ensembles is the steel drum band, 
>the PANtagonists, which is not featured on "Surge." The group brings 
>its light hearted and energetic performances to festivals and events 
>around the city.
>The cover art on "Surge" was painted by UH School of Art students 
>Julie De Vries and Adam Malek. The compact disc can be ordered from 
>Albany Records Web site at www.albanyrecords.com.
>
>The UH Percussion Ensemble's next performance is April 10 in the 
>Moores Opera House. For more details on the ensemble or percussion 
>studies, visit www.uh.edu/percussion/.
>
>About the University of Houston
>The University of Houston, Texas' premier metropolitan research and 
>teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and 
>institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, 
>civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research 
>university in the country, stands at the forefront of education, 
>research and service with more than 35,000 students.
>
>For more information about UH visit the university's 'Newsroom' at 
>www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.



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