Purdue percussion goes to classics and beyond for Spring Fest

April 9, 2013  


WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Comedy? Check! Craziness? Always! But classical? The Purdue Percussion Theater, which has gained a reputation for its lively spring concerts, is putting a "classical face" on its Sunday (April 14) concert "From Bach to Rock."

The annual event is set for 2:30 p.m. in Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse on campus. Part of Spring Fest weekend at Purdue University, admission to the concert is free.

Purdue's percussion specialist Pam Nave goes for bold pieces that are all-time classics as well as pieces that are competing to be classics of the 21st century.

There are Felix Mendelssohn's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Modest Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition," George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess" and Percy Grainger's "Molly on the Shore" on the all-time classic team.

But a bit of ragtime sneaks in with Victor Moulton's "That Dixie Rag," which features Rob St. Claire as xylophone soloist. And there's comic relief in Vince Quaraldi's "Linus and Lucy," inspired by the famous Peanuts cartoon characters.

Among contemporary pieces, "ScoJo Madness" incorporates the drumming style of Blue Devils' head drum instructor Scott Johnson into a Latin ensemble piece. The Blue Devils, a Drum Corps International competitor from California, has won the world championship 15 times. Designed for five drummers, the piece uses marching snare, bongos, congas, timbale, drum set and bongo bell.

"From Bach to Rock" is sponsored by Purdue Bands & Orchestras. For more information on free concerts visit http://www.purdue.edu/bands

Contact: Kathy Matter, 765-496-6785, kcmatter@purdue.edu

Purdue University, 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907, (765) 494-4600

© 2014-18 Purdue University | An equal access/equal opportunity university | Integrity Statement | Copyright Complaints | Brand Toolkit | Maintained by Marketing and Media

Trouble with this page? Disability-related accessibility issue? Please contact us at online@purdue.edu so we can help.