2020-2021 Concert Season
Blue2 Percussion Showcase Concert
Adam Brostowitz, Percussion Instructor Jahi Moore, Percussion Instructor Rick Schadt, Percussion Instructor Wes Zepecki-Davison, Percussion Instructor
Mukwonago High School West Gym Saturday | May 15 | 7:00pm
Due to copyright and privacy laws: You may not publicly display or post recordings (YouTube, Facebook, etc.) of any part of this program.
Program Elephant Ears (2021)
Wes Zepecki-Davison b. 1989
Disguised (2020)
Clif Walker b. 1973
Percussion I-V (1939)
Johanna M. Beyer (1888-1944)
Detour (2012)
Brian Blume b. 1985
Five Petite Movements (2015)
Chris Roode b. 1984
Place of the Bear (2021)
Jahi Moore b. 1992
-Intermissionarr. Jahi Moore b. 1992
Muk (2021) Imminent Launch (2020)
Matt Moore b. 1985
Stuck in the Muk (2021)
Wes Zepecki-Davison b. 1989
The Grand Ambulation of the B-Flat Zombies (1982) Steel Band Set (2020)
Adam Brostowitz b. 1989
Rotation IV (1996) Amelia Boerger, Marimba
Max Power (2017)
John Bergamo (1940-2013)
Eric Sammut b. 1968 Daniel Montoya Jr. b. 1978
Program Notes Elephant Ears (2021)
Wes Zepecki-Davison b. 1989
Elephant Ears was written for the Blue2 JV Battery and will be used as the parade cadence for the MHS Marching Band in 2021. Inspiration for composing a drumline cadence can come from a variety of places; a catchy song, something funny said by a student at rehearsal, or even your daughter’s musical elephant toy. Dedicated to Micah Zepecki-Davison. (Program Notes by Rick Schadt) Disguised (2020)
Clif Walker b. 1973
Things are not always what they seem. Disguised is a study in manipulating the listener’s perception of where meter and time fall, while also an exercise in masking the conventional sounds of common percussion instruments to create new colors. For example, the marimba players use mutes over the bars to “disguise’’ the sound of the marimba, and the vibraphones are sometimes played with finger cymbals rather than mallets. The piece also utilizes an electronic audio soundscape that not only provides a supporting sonic backdrop but interjects with additional manipulated sounds. (Program notes by Clif Walker) Percussion I-V (1939)
Johanna M. Beyer (1888-1944)
Published in 1936, Percussion I-V (specifically IV) was one of the first major works for percussion ensemble, and the only work published during Johanna M. Beyer’s lifetime. For many years it was unknown why Beyer chose the name IV; however in recent years, manuscripts were found in archives of the ‘other’ movements, meaning IV is really the fourth movement of a five movement work. All five movements are written for nine players with indeterminate instrumentation. As such, many concerts include multiple performances of the piece using different instrumentation for each. (Program notes by Rick Schadt with help from Sylvia Smith of Smith Publications)
Detour (2012)
Brian Blume b. 1985
While a Detour is often an annoyance or a hinderance, occasionally a detour can add some excitement to an otherwise mundane travel experience. Maybe it is a detour through a new and exciting landscape, or perhaps a detour takes you on a treacherous and thrilling journey. Sometimes life forces us to take detours instead of our planned routes, making it a truly unpredictable and wild ride. (Program Notes by Brian Blume) Five Petite Movements (2015)
Chris Roode b. 1984
Five Petite Movements consists of five short, varied pieces, each focusing on a different instrument family and performance skill set. This piece is an excellent vehicle for allowing younger students to explore a wide range of techniques on essential percussion instruments in a chamber music setting. (Program Notes by Rick Schadt Place of the Bear (2021)
Jahi Moore b. 1992
After making the decision to move away from a singular marching drumline production this season, the Blue2 Percussion staff still wanted the students to have the opportunity to perform together in a battery-front ensemble setting. It is very challenging to compose a piece that shifts through a variety of feels/ emotions while still keeping it brief. Jahi was willing to take on the challenge, and Place of the Bear (a reference to Mukwonago) is the resulting composition. (Program Notes by Rick Schadt) Muk (2021)
arr. Jahi Moore b. 1992
Muk is a short drumline arrangement that utilizes content from this year’s upcoming Marching Band Show. Not only has it been a good challenge for our more experienced percussionists, but it also allows them to get a head start on the marching band show. (Program Notes by Rick Schadt)
Imminent Launch (2020)
Matt Moore b. 1985
Commissioned by the Hawaii Youth Percussion Ensemble, Imminent Launch is a creates the excitement and tension that build in the moments leading up to a space mission rocket launch. Its cinematic action paired with constant groove make for a thrilling experience for both performers and audience. (Program notes by C. Alan Publications & Rick Schadt) Stuck in the Muk (2021)
Wes Zepecki-Davison b. 1989
In Drum Corps International (essential the “major league” of competitive marching ensembles), “Finals Week” is the culmination of months of hard work and dedication. In addition to the Prelims/Semis/Finals shows, many students also participate in an I&E (think Solo & Ensemble) competition, and bass drum ensembles are often a fan favorite. Many bass drum ensemble compositions utilize a blend of groove and harnessing the melodic capabilities of the pitched drums. In Stuck in the Muk, you may recognize references to Aerosmith’s opening riff from “Walk This Way” in addition to material based (no pun intended) on the upcoming 2021 Marching Band production. (Program Notes by Rick Schadt) The Grand Ambulation of the B-flat Zombies (1982)
John Bergamo (1940-2013)
The Grand Ambulation of the B-flat Zombies is an eclectic piece for percussion ensemble. Bergamo combines sections of composed ensemble keyboard material with interjections of arhythmic chaos from the percussive voices. Additionally, the piece constantly flows in and out of groove oriented material that is provided by bass and drum set. After listening to a few recordings of this piece, one would quickly realize that a significant amount of what is being performed is not even notated in the score. In fact, nearly every recording has at least one unique characteristic that sets it apart from others as well as several sections featuring (often) bizarre improvisations. Clearly, this piece invites chaos. The best performances are often the ones where the performers embrace this aspect, the resulting performance art often pushing the limits of the audience’s comfort levels. Enjoy this ride to the weirder side of percussion! (Program Notes by Rick Schadt)
Steel Band Set (2020)
Adam Brostowitz b. 1989
Steel band often refers to a Trinidadian music ensemble, particularly associated with Carnival, that is primarily composed of steel idiophones—called pans or steel pans—made from the bottoms of 55-gallon oil barrels. The barrel bottoms are hammered inward, different areas being shaped to yield distinct pitches. When struck with rubber-tipped mallets, the instruments produce bell-like tones. A steel band typically includes pans of various pitch ranges as well as a number of nonmelodic percussion instruments. By the 1950’s the tradition had to other islands of the Caribbean, most notably Antigua and St. Thomas. In the 1970’s Steel Bands began to be incorporated into school programs in Trinidad. Around the same time, expatriate Trinidadians in the United States and Europe began to teach pan in grade schools, colleges, and community centers. Tonight our Blue2 Steel Band will perform two original compositions simply titled, “A Little Pan Melody” and “A Lil’ Mo Pan Melody”. (Program Notes from Britannica.com) Rotation IV (1996)
Eric Sammut b. 1968
Four Rotations Pour Marimba (1996) by Eric Sammut has become one of the most important marimba compositions in serious concert solo marimba literature. Four Rotations Pour Marimba is a suite of four short pieces; each of them demonstrates a different musical character while incorporating similar compositional components and techniques. The name of the piece is derived from the technique of marimba playing known as “single alternating strokes.” Each “Rotation” has its own unique sound character of distinct rhythms and interesting shifts in tonality. This piece has become very popular over the years for its beautiful, flowing melody as well as its pedagogical importance. (Program notes by Ming-Jen Suen & Nicholas Wanagosit)
Max Power (2017)
Daniel Montoya Jr. b. 1978
On The Simpsons episode entitled “Homer to the Max,” Homer changes his name to Max Power and adopts a new, impulsive, go-getter attitude. My piece, Max Power, imagines a world in which Power is a James Bond-type character immersed in intrigue, adventure, drama, and danger. As is a staple in my Simpsons-inspired pieces, the iconic tritone melody from The Simpsons theme song is prevalent throughout the piece signaling that at the very core, Power is still Homer Simpson. (Program notes by Daniel Montoya Jr.) Episode AABF09 – “Homer to the Max” Original Air Date: February 7, 1999 Marge: You changed your name without consulting me? Homer: That’s the way Max Power is, Marge… decisive, uncompromising, and rude! Homer: Kids, there’s three ways to do things. The right way, the wrong way, and the Max Power way! Bart: Isn’t that the wrong way? Homer: Yeah, but faster! Homer (singing): Max Power… He’s the man, whose name you’d love to touch. But you mustn’t touch. His name sounds good in your ear. But when you say it you mustn’t fear. Cuz his name can be said by anyone! (Excerpts from “Homer to the Max” written by John Swartzwelder)
Performers Due to the importance of every part, students are listed alphabetically.
Amelia Boerger* Jeremy Boutin Andy Brandt Sean Braun Jeremy Cotturone Alex DeLeon Anna DeLeon Charlie Essmann Alex Fritz Eli Henken Matthew Janson* Matthew Jolliffe
Austin Kiselicka Emma Libecki Darren Meyer Ilaria Nuccio Ryan O’Connor Logan Poser Kendal Schreiber Claire Schiek Nathan Starr Josh Stobbe Olivia Trapp*
* - indicates high school senior
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Upcoming Events Date
Time
May 18
Event
Location
Elementary Instrument Fitting Night
Clarendon Avenue Elementary
May 19
TBA
MHS Bands Finale Concert
Greenwald PAC
May 20
TBA
PVMS Bands Finale Concert
MHS West Gym
May 26
3:00pm
Blue2 Perc/Winds Farmer’s Market Performance
Mukwonago Field Park
Elementary Instrument Fitting Night
Rolling Hills Elementary
Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony
Mukwonago Library
May 27
May 31
Jun 1
9:30am
7:00pm Encore: MHS Music Dept Award & Senior Night
MHS West Gym
Jun 20
Mukwonago Summerfeste Parade
Downtown Mukwonago
Jun 27
Kettle Moraine Days Parade
Eagle, WI
Jul 30
Marching Band Preview Performance
Hensler Field (MHS)
For more information on upcoming events, visit our website: www.mukwonagobands.org
Fine Arts Boosters
What We Do We support the arts in the Mukwonago Area School District through volunteerism, fundraising, and advocacy. Membership Dues Membership Dues support around 25% of the MFAB budget. There are options available for every family ($30, $60, or $90) and a business membership option ($250) for our community partners. Note that some funding for each individual art is based on the percentage of families it has registered for MFAB. Simply by signing up, you are supporting your student! How Can You Join? https://www.mukwonagofineartsboosters.com/get-involved Want to Become More Involved? Attend a meeting! Meetings are the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm via Zoom. The meeting link can be found at: https://www.mukwonagofineartsboosters.com/get-involved
MFAB Sulla Cima Members The Bloom Family The Brandt Family The Cotturone Family Czeshinski Family David and Marin Dobbs The D'Amour Family The Esmeier Family The Fleischer Family The Marrari Family
Dan & Dawn Henkhaus Colin and Marci Hughes The Kaczinski Family The Marrari Family David and Jenifer Mersfelder The Myers Family Chris and Katy O’Connor Oftedahl Family
The Panetta Family Pett Family Laura and Francis Pilon The Shaffer Family The Sherrod Family The Simonson Family The Turk Family The Wilhelm Family
MFAB Sulla Cima Business Members Kyle & Kristin Christensen DewWow, Inc. For more information on upcoming events, visit our website: www.mukwonagofineartsboosters.com
Special Thanks MASD Board of Education Shawn McNulty, MASD Superintendent Stephanie Blue, Director of Student Learning Tom Karthausser, Director of Business Affairs Ben Kossow, Coordinator of Student Assessment Data and Analysis Christine Bowden, Director of Pupil Services Dustin Lehman, Coordinator of College and Career Readiness Susan Muenter, Director of Human Resources Andy Wegner, District Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds Jim Darin, MHS Principal Sarah Dianich, & Stephanie Krenz, MHS Associate Principals William Plant, MHS Dean of Students Andy Trudell, MHS Activities Director Dean Kovnesky, MHS Head Custodian MHS Custodial Staff Luke Spielman, PVMS Principal Lee Libecki, PVMS Associate Principal Holly Bodish, PVMS Dean of Students Emma Angoli, MHS Band Director Jenny Peterson, PVMS Band Director PJ Uhazie, MHS Choir Director Lori Wildemann, PVMS Choir Director Julie Hanisch, MHS Drama Director Dale Wimer and Alexa Zakutansky, MHS Orchestra Directors Sarah Oftedahl, PVMS Orchestra Director Amanda Caretta-Hull, Nyla Clements & Ben Warrichaiet, MES Band Directors Emilee Deck, Kathy Doty, Adam Hackbarth & Caryn Ruesch, MES Music Teachers Joseph Coldwell, PAC Technical Coordinator Carmen Scott, PAC House Manager & Technical Assistant PAC Usher Corps PAC Student Crew JoAnn Barkley, District Printing