Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University will host Dr. Ryan C. Lewis, OBU assistant professor of percussion, in a faculty recital Monday, Sept. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall on Ouachita’s campus.

“The recital will feature ‘percussion plus one’ compositions that involve a percussion instrument and one additional instrument,” Lewis said.

Lewis will perform pieces from Spanish, American and Japanese composers, including the American piece “Song Book for Alto Saxophone and Marimba” by David Maslanka, the Spanish piece “Seven Spanish Popular Songs” by Manuel de Falla, the Japanese piece “Toward the Sea” by Toru Takemitsu and another American piece, “Xylophonia” by Joseph Green.

“The second piece was originally written for voice and guitar, but I will be playing the guitar part on the vibraphone,” Lewis explained.

Similarly, “Toward the Sea” was initially written for the flute and harp, but Lewis will play the harp part on the marimba.

“It is hard to say which piece is my favorite,” Lewis said. “They each have something special to offer the listener, whether in their musical language, instrumentation or simply their country of origin.

“If I had to choose, ‘Xylophonia’ is the most outright fun to play because it is based on ragtime rhythms and virtuosic playing that appeals to a wide audience,” Lewis added.

Lewis teaches applied percussion, percussion techniques and music history courses at Ouachita. He also directs the OBU Percussion Ensemble and Tiger Marching Band Drum Line. He previously served on music faculties at Claflin University, the University of South Carolina and Florida State University. Lewis holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in percussion performance from the University of South Carolina, a Master of Music in percussion performance from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Instrumental Music Education from Furman University. An avid chamber musician and collaborator, Lewis performs with his piano-percussion group Duo Matre and has appeared with So Percussion, composer-conductor John Harbison, Mannheim Steamroller, Afro-pop guitarist Habib Koité and Chinese zheng-master Haiqiong Deng in her Carnegie Hall debut.

Lewis will be assisted by Kristin Grant, instructor of music, on the flute; Dr. Ouida Keck, Addie Mae Maddox Professor of Music, playing the piano; Dr. Glenda Secrest, professor of music, as the soprano voice; and Dr. Caroline Taylor, professor of music, playing the saxophone.

For more information, contact Ryan Lewis at [email protected] or (870) 245-5421.

By Megan Ruggles