BEAT HUNGER
Popular UTC percussion concert is Monday
One of the most popular concerts presented by students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is set for Monday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in the UTC Fine Arts Center, 752 Vine St.
This marks the 15th year that the UTC Percussion Ensemble has kicked off the holiday season with “Beat Hunger,” a fundraiser for the Chattanooga Community Kitchen. Admission is either a $2 check made out to the Chattanooga Community Kitchen or a donation of two nonperishable food items.
Concertgoers will be entertained by Chattanooga’s bucket band, Funkabuckets, in the lobby of the Vine Arts Center from 7 p.m. until the concert hall doors open at 7:15.
Dr. Monte Coulter, director of the UTC ensemble, says the concert will open with “A Slap Shift” by Smith, a piece for six conga players.
“It’s written in a strange notation that conga players follow for the different motions their hands make when they play. They’ll play right out on the front of the stage so the audience will be able to see these different motions. All six players have a different conga part.”
Coulter says the students will play a Brazilian piece, “Samba,” by Rosauro.
“It’s written with standard Western instruments to approximate the sounds of traditional Brazilian samba. For example, one student plays a part on a frying pan,” Coulter describes.
“Another really fun piece is a transcription by Bela Fleck, arranged by Steinquest, called ‘Metric Lips.’ It’s a mallet quartet that has all these wild banjo-sounding solos passed around the quartet. They are having a blast with it.”
The Percussion Ensemble’s six musicians performing Monday night are: Cameron Perkins, Andy Stone, Andy Bittenbender, Matt Gardner, William Graham and Monica Herrera.
The program’s music will include all manner of unusual instruments, as well as the expected snare drums, timpani, mallet instruments and cymbals.
For more information: 423425-5269.