Arts and Entertainment

Percussion Ensemble and Mallet Ensemble to perform Dec. 2

Penn State Percussion Studio Credit: Annemarie Mountz / Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State's Percussion Ensemble I and Mallet Ensemble will present their end-of-semester concerts at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2, in Esber Recital Hall. The ensembles are conducted by percussion professor Dan C. Armstrong. Admission is free.

Percussion Ensemble I program

"Bicksa" — Tom Hasenpflug

"Toccata Without Instruments" — Ramon Meyer

"Song to the Moon" — Antonin Dvořák, arranged by Nathan Daughtrey

"Portico" — Tom Gauger

Mallet Ensemble program

"Spanish Dance" (from "The Gadfly") — Dmitri Shostakovich, arranged by Dan C. Armstrong

"Allegretto Pizzicato" (from String Quartet No. 4) — Béla Bartók, arranged by Paul Bissell

"Purdy’s Maze" — Brian Nozny

Jaunt (from "English Suite") — Paul Lewis, arranged by Dan C. Armstrong

"Celesta" — Emil Richards

"The Galloping Comedians" — Dmitri Kabalevsky, arranged by Ruth Jeanne

Percussion Ensemble I performs a variety of music written for four to twelve players, including contemporary music written for percussion as well as arrangements. Instrumentation includes all types of percussion, from familiar drums and cymbals to exotic items from around the world. Through participation, students learn the art of ensemble performing and augment their understanding of the role of percussion within the discipline of music. They also learn the skills of organization and cooperation through rehearsal and performance. The ensembles have appeared frequently at meetings of the Music Educators National Conference and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. Enrollment is by audition with the conductor.

The Mallet Ensemble performs music either written for or arranged for mallet-played keyboard percussion instruments and consists of three to eight players. Literature ranges from transcribed orchestral and chamber music to contemporary compositions written specifically for mallet ensemble. Enrollment is by audition with the conductor.

 

Last Updated November 30, 2015