Percussion ensemble presents ‘global journey’

ARKADELPHIA — Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Fine Arts will present the OBU Percussion Ensemble in concert at 7: 30 p. m. Monday in McBeth Recital Hall on Ouachita’s campus. The recital is free and open to the public. This semester’s concert mixes classic and contemporary pieces and contrasting styles from around the world to take listeners on a global journey.

The concert will open with American composer Christopher Rouse’s “Ku- Ka- Ilimoku.” Composed in the 1980s, this piece is based on the Hawaiian god of war. Lewis described this piece as “exhilarating” due to its lack of pitched instruments and its use of drum hits. The Hawaiian inspiration will be conveyed through the use of wood blocks and small drums.

From Hawaii, the program will transition to Sweden with the piece “Norrsken” by Anders Astrand. Astrand drew his inspiration for this piece from the aurora borealis and sought to depict the many colors he saw.

As the program continues, a suite of Mexican marimba street pieces will be featured along with an American ragtime xylophone jazz piece. China will be represented by the composition “Terra-Cotta Warriors,” and a world fusion piece, “Warthog Number 3,” will be performed using drums from all over the world. The program will close with the Japanese taiko drumming piece, “Hoo-Daiko.”

Members of the ensemble include Aaron Breeding, of Springdale, a junior instrumental music education major; Judd Cochran, of Texarkana, Texas, a freshman instrumental music education major; Chris Crutchfield, of Bauxite, a sophomore Christian studies major; Drew Ervin, of Springdale, a senior music major; Nick Gibson, of Teague, Texas, a freshman instrumental music education major; Carter Harlan, of Arkadelphia, a junior instrumental music education major; Chris Hogan, of Bartlesville, Okla., a senior instrumental music education major; Van O’Rorke, of Hot Springs, a sophomore instrumental music major; Abby Tipps, of Sulphur Springs, Texas, a sophomore instrumental music education major; Zack Willis, of Redfield, a sophomore performance major; and Weston Wills, of Norphlet, a sophomore instrumental music education major.

Call 870-245-5421 for more information.

Submitted photo 7B From left, Erika Phelps, Fran Kasemeier, Willie Ashcraft, Joyce Watkins and Martha June Burch present their version of “Operator,” a Manhattan Transfer number, for the Oct. 22 Emblem Club luncheon at Forrest Lakes. The Silver Foxes performed on Oct....