A musical event this Saturday hopes to take its audience members on an audio tour around the world using unexpected instruments including anvils, wood blocks and steel drums.
Three different percussion ensembles, Panoramic Steel, Percussion Ensemble and Gamelan Bintang Wahyu, seek to create a musical journey through a variety of countries and cultures on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 4 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall.
Ron Brough, the director of Panoramic Steel and Percussion Ensemble, brought together instruments from all over the world to create an unexpected sound using brake drums, keyboard percussionists and other instruments.
“It’s Beethoven in the way you never thought you’d hear Beethoven,” Brough said. “It’s going to be really different. You’re feasting on a lot of different kinds of cultures all brought together for one concert.”
All ensemble members are enrolled in a semester-long class available on campus to anyone with a love for music and a desire to learn. This concert will showcase what students have been working on and learning for the past semester.
Nathan Haines, a music major from Sandy, plays the steel drum, an instrument from Trinidad and Tobago, in the Panoramic Steel ensemble and encourages everyone to attend for an eye-opening experience.
“If you want to hear something to brighten up your weekend, especially with winter coming soon, you should definitely come to the concert,” Haines said. “When you see the instruments we play and the costumes we wear, it really takes you across to the other side of the world.”
Among many pieces, Panoramic Steel will be presenting “Acadia Sunset” by Gary Gibson, a piece from Brazil. Another piece, featured by the Percussion Ensemble, is “Unseen Child” by Bob Becker, a song based on a Japanese poem. Gamelan Bintang Wahyu, directed by Jeremy Grimshaw, will present two numbers using traditional Balinese instruments.
Anna Dunford, a sophomore from Flower Mound, Texas, will be playing many instruments during the performance, including the vibraphone and the marimba. Dunford enjoys playing music from around the world and said music communicates messages that ordinary words cannot.
“I really love that people use music to say so many things that you can’t express in just plain words,” Dunford said. “My favorite part is just learning how to understand what they’re trying to say. It really opens up a whole new world.”
For tickets to “Evening of Percussion,” visit the Fine Art Ticket Office, byuarts.com/tickets or call 801-422-3320.
