11.19.2019 ENS Percussion Ensemble

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE Ralph Sorrentino, Director Angela Zator Nelson, guest soloist

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2019 MADELEINE WING ADLER THEATRE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 8:15 PM

PROGRAM SEE/CHANGE................................................................................................................. Trey

Files

ADAGIO FOR STRINGS........................................................................................... Samuel Barber (1910-1981) arr. John Alfieri SUITE FOR MARIMBA SOLO AND 4 PERCUSSIONISTS ............................. Emmanuel Séjourné (b. 1961) I. Ritmica II. Romantica III. Passionata

Angela Zator Nelson, marimba Intermission

KU-KA-ILIMOKU .............................................................................................. Christopher Rouse (1949-2019)

Nate Gittelman, Sean McWilliams, Sean Slattery, Luke Thurston

FARANDOLE FROM L’ARLESIENNE SUITE NO. 2 ............................................ Georges Bizet (1838-1875) arr. Gordon Peters SURFACING..................................................................................................................... Dave Hall (b. 1983)

West Chester University Percussion Ensemble Kathleen Carter Ruth Clark Adrianna Cunning Cameron Davis Dan Farnum Brett Gillott Nate Gittelman

Sean Hayes Robert Kiesel Sean McWilliams Jon Partridge Neel Patel Mae Prasch Anton Saliaris

Caitlyn Scanlan Jacob Scheidt Sean Slattery Fred Spaziani Luke Thurston Devin Williams Isaac Hallberg, piano

Please silence all cell phones and electronic devices.

ARTIST PROFILE Angela Zator Nelson, associate principal timpanist and section percussionist, joined The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1999 as the first female percussionist ever hired by the Orchestra. A native of the Chicago area, Ms. Nelson graduated from Northwestern University’s School of Music where she studied with James Ross and Patricia Dash of the Chicago Symphony, and with marimba virtuoso Michael Burritt. While in Chicago, Ms. Nelson was principal percussionist of the Civic Orchestra for three years. In 2001 she earned a masters degree in music performance from Temple University, where her principal instructor was Alan Abel of The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Ms. Nelson is an active chamber musician with a forte in new music. She has premiered and recorded the first five George Crumb American Songbooks written for Orchestra 2001. The premieres took place at the Salzburg Music Festival, in Carnegie Hall, and in the Perelman Theater at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. Ms. Nelson also performs regularly with Network for New Music and the Philadelphia Orchestra Percussion Group. She has participated in numerous music festivals, including the Tanglewood Music Festival, the Pacific Music Festival, the Saratoga Chamber Music Festival, the Peninsula Music Festival, and the National Repertory Orchestra. As a marimba soloist, Ms. Nelson has performed with Temple University’s Symphony Orchestra, the Bay-Atlantic Symphony, the Main Line Symphony, and the Philadelphia Classical Symphony. As an educator, Ms. Nelson joined the faculty at Temple University as adjunct professor in 2001, and she has presented classes at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. Ms. Nelson is a Zildjian Performing Artist and endorses their cymbals.

SELECTED PROGRAM NOTES see/change was premiered on May 5, 2003 at Lincoln Center’s Walter Reade Theater. The solo pattern

played by the triangle in the first two measures serves as the source material for the entire piece, with each of the composition’s three sections defined by its approach to this syncopated rhythm and its juxtaposition of resonant and dry sounds.

- Bachovich Music Publications

Ku-Ka-Ilimoku was completed in 1978 on commission from the Syracuse Symphony Percussion Ensemble.

The composer has written:

"In Hawaiian mythology, Ku is perhaps the most fundamental and important of gods, occupying a place similar to that of Zeus in Greek mythology or Odin in Norse legend. Ku is manifested in several forms: as KuKa-Ilimoku he represents the god of war. Thus this work for percussion ensemble is best viewed as a savage, propulsive war dance."

Hawaiian chants are often based on as few as two pitches, and Hawaiian percussion emphasizes short, repetitive patterns. Underlying this surface simplicity is a wealth of subtle rhythmic inflection and variation.

Rouse incorporates this diversity to great effect, creating a tightly knit, exhilarating work. Although indigenous instruments are not employed, the timbre of their voices is evoked. The dynamic power of the Western instruments adds an intense level of ferocity to the proceedings.

- www.christopherrouse.com

Surfacing begins with a tumultuous introduction where several emerging pitch centers eventually coalesce

into a three-note descending bassline. The bassline then fragments into different voices and occurs at multiple rates of speed on top of a relentless sixteenth note keyboard ostinato. During a more tranquil middle section, the descending bassline is gradually repurposed as the foundation of an ascending chord progression. After a short recapitulation and long delayed harmonic resolution, the dust settles and the piece concludes with a piano-led epilogue. In the end of the piece the ascending chord progression is all that remains, accompanied only by a few musical artifacts from the introduction.

- Dave Hall

UPCOMING WELLS SCHOOL OF MUSIC EVENTS For full event details visit www.wcupa.edu/music or call (610) 436-2739 Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 8:15 PM Flute Ensemble Concert Kimberly Reighley, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center Thursday, November 21, 2019, 8:15 PM Vocal Jazz & Latin Jazz Ensembles Concert Ryan Kelly & Marc Jacoby, directors Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center Sunday, November 24, 2019, 3:00 PM Liberty Youth Wind Symphony M. Gregory Martin & Adam Gumble, directors Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall Philips Memorial Building Sunday, December 1, 2019, 7:30 PM *WCU Opera Theater: Menotti's "Amahl and the Night Visitors" Emily Bullock & Heidi Starr, directors Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center 226 North High Street, West Chester, PA 19380 Tuesday, December 3, 2019, 8:15 PM Statesmen & Jazz Combos Concert Daniel Cherry, directors Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center

*Tickets required for this event.

Events at the Wells School of Music are often supported by individual donors and organizations.

Contributions to the Wells School of Music may be made out to: WCU Foundation, 202 Carter Drive, West Chester, PA 19382 Please include “School of Music Deans Fund� in the memo line.

For further information, please call (610) 436-2868 or visit wcufoundation.org A majority of performances are available to watch via live stream at Facebook.com/ArtsAtWCUPA and LiveStream.com/wcupa.

Mr. Robert Rust, Audio & Visual Technician Steinway & Sons Piano Technical, Tuning and Concert Preparations by Gerald P. Cousins, RPT If you do not intend to save your program, please recycle it in the baskets at the exit doors.

The Wells School of Music | West Chester University of Pennsylvania Dr. Christopher Hanning, Dean