Percussion concert’s promise: “Taking It To The Max”

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

By nature, drummers tend to take everything to the max, but the phrase takes on a double meaning for the members of the Purdue Percussion Theater when they present “Taking It To The Max” at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 19, in Loeb Playhouse.

Admission is free.

The group’s annual concert, known for its theatrical flair and its juxtaposition of comedic percussion pieces with more serious ones, takes time to salute Maxine Lefever, a former Purdue percussion professor who created the drum line’s legacy of intensity and pride.

 

“Maxine was a one-of-a-kind percussionist who loved Purdue. She realized how important it was to keep the percussion department thriving through instruments, music and performances. We’re happy to be able to honor her at this concert,” says Purdue’s current percussion specialist Pamela J. Nave.

Professor Emerita Maxine Lefever, lost her battle with cancer on June 20, 2004, at age 73. From her arrival at Purdue in 1962 until her retirement in 1987, she dedicated her life to the Purdue Bands. Besides taking charge of the marching band’s drum line, she helped organize and traveled extensively on national and international tours with the Purdue Bands, and served Al G. Wright as an administrative assistant.

Through her estate, Lefever remains one of Purdue Band’s most significant donors, establishing endowments for percussion activities as well as a special student award for outstanding percussionists. 

Three of the many pieces Lefever arranged or composed for Purdue percussionists will be featured at the concert – a marimba ensemble titled “Tico Tico” and two pieces she wrote for cymbal, snare and bass, “San Luis” and “Mancous.”

Nave promises a thunderous opening to the concert with a variety of pieces for drum line.

Besides the works by Lefever, the concert will put the spotlight on two guest soloists, a guest ensemble and a variety of compositions created by student percussionists.

Bonyea Killebrew, is the featured marimba soloist in a piece he composed titled “Apocalyptics;” Kevin Tsai wrote “Ego” for snare and bass drum; Lindsay Surmacz created a drum line piece titled “Rhythm Machine;” and Brian Leathers wrote “Quadtastrophe” for quad drums.

Topping the guest performers, Twana Harris, director of the Black Voices of Inspiration, will sing “Somewhere” from West Side Story with accompaniment by Nave on the vibes. Amanda Hampton, a dancer with the Purdue Repertory Dance Company and coach for the Golden Silks flag corps, will be the featured dancer in “Metheny Dream.” “The James Ancona piece is the first slow, pretty percussion piece we’ve ever played. Percussion doesn’t usually do slow and pretty because it’s hard,” Nave says.

Sunday’s concert closes with the Black Voices of Inspiration joining the Purdue Percussion Ensemble for “a really happy dance kind of piece that’s very uplifting,” Nave says,

Anders Edenroth’s Latin flavored “Chili Con Carne.”

 

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