Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University will host the OBU Percussion Ensemble in concert on Monday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall on Ouachita’s campus. The recital is free and open to the public.

“This particular concert features the theme of commemoration,” said Dr. Ryan Lewis, Ouachita assistant professor of music and director of the ensemble. “In this case, commemoration of people and events – from vampires and rock-and-roll drummers to famous composers and civil rights activists.”

The ensemble will perform pieces that have been specifically written for percussion ensembles, including “Night Hunter” by James Campbell, “Normandy Beach 1944” by David Gillingham, “Dance Music for Elfrid Ide” by John Cage, “Gainsborough” by Tom Gauger, “The Surface of the Sky” by Blake Tyson, “Music for Pieces of Wood” by Steve Reich and “Bonham” by Christopher Rouse.

“This will be my final performance with the ensemble,” said Nick Gibson, a senior instrumental music education major from Teague, Texas. “it's nice to end my last semester on a good note.” Gibson added that the ensemble not only spends two hours a week together in rehearsal, but also countless hours in the practice room.

“They must learn, prepare and practice their parts, then come to rehearsals ready to learn each other’s parts and how they all fit together,” Lewis said.

The members of the ensemble will play a variety of instruments including timpani, tom toms, cymbals, marimbas, vibraphones, glockenspiels, Latin cajon, Afro-Cuban bongos, congas and lion’s roar.

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

 

By Bethany Lenards

November 6, 2017