The Friends University Percussion Group will be performing an eclectic program of works on Saturday, November 14, 2015 at 5:00 in the Sebits Auditorium. Pieces to be performed include An Index of Possibility by Robert Honstein, Experiences by John Cage and Boboland by Kevin Bobo.
An Index of Possibility, written in 2012, is sure to become a masterwork of the percussion repertoire. The composition weaves through sweet lullabies played on tuned copper pipes and desk bells, aggressive undulation textures performed on wooden planks, log drums and steel pipes, and raucous explosions of sound produced by wine bottles, frying pans, trashy cymbals, and a myriad of small percussion instruments. This multi-movement work is and adventure through the possibility of found percussion instruments.
Experiences is an arrangement of two of John Cage’s works written for the modern dancer Merce Cunningham, both of which are inspired by the E. E. Cummings poem It is at Moments After I have Dreamed. Originally a work for piano duet (Experiences no. 1) and a piece for solo voice (Experiences no. 2), Dr. Von Hansen has arranged the two works into one composition for mallet percussion and tenor voice. Cage’s two pieces are merged in a way that creates a new interpretation of music that was written in 1945.
Boboland is just a great deal of fun! This piece features Dr. Von Hansen as marimba soloist with a full percussion ensemble accompaniment. Boboland is meant to represent a journey through the mind of a three year old, complete with cartoon sounds, sudden changes of mood and plenty of childlike joy.
Friends University’s Chamber Instrumental Ensembles will perform on November 12, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. in the Riney Fine Art Center’s Sebits Auditorium.
The performance will be held in Sebits Auditorium at the Friends University Campus at 2100 W. University Ave., Wichita, Kan.. and the performance is free and open to the public.
For more information on this event or other Fine Arts events, please contact the Fine Arts Box Office at 316-295-5677 or finearts@friends.edu.