PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE Ralph Sorrentino, Director Michael Burritt, Guest Soloist TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2021 MADELEINE WING ADLER THEATRE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 8:15 PM
PROGRAM THE DOOMSDAY MACHINE .................................................................................... Michael Burritt (b. 1962) MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE ............................................................................................... Ivan Trevino (b. 1983) KYOTO ............................................................................................................................ John Psathas (b. 1966) ROUNDERS .................................................................................................................Michael Burritt (b. 1962) Michael Burritt, marimba Matt Langlois, Anthony Maldonado, and Sean Slattery; percussion Intermission RHYTHM STRIP ............................................................................................................ Áskell Másson (b. 1953) Michael Burritt, orchestral snare drum and field drum Ralph Sorrentino, piccolo snare drum BACKLASH 2.0 ............................................................................................................ Chris Hanning (b. 1962) arr. A. Shallenberger; ed. N. Gittelman Nate Gittelman, drum set HOME TRILOGY .........................................................................................................Michael Burritt (b. 1962) I. Painted Hills II. White Pines III. Home Michael Burritt, marimba Nate Gittelman, Matt Langlois, Sean McWilliams, and Luke Thurston; percussion
WEST CHESTER UNIVERSITY PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE Kathleen Carter Mike Dettra Brett Gillott Nate Gittelman Sean Hayes Ben Kutay Matt Langlois Kelly Lawrie
Anthony Maldonado Sean McWilliams Kris Nelson Jon Partridge David Sabella Anton Saliaris Caitlyn Scanlan Jacob Scheidt
Please silence all cell phones and electronic devices.
Sean Slattery Nick Stalford Erik Texter Luke Thurston Zack Volturo Luke Sheffe, piano Casey Warfield, bass
MICHAEL BURRITT Having performed on four continents and in more than forty states, Michael Burritt is one of his generation’s leading percussionists. He is in frequent demand, performing concert tours and master classes throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Canada. Burritt has been soloist with the United States Air Force Band, Dallas Wind Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Nexus, Third Coast Percussion, Ju Percussion Group (Taiwan), Percussion Art Quartet (Germany), and the Amores Percussion Group (Spain). Burritt has released three solo albums as well as numerous chamber recordings. In 2018 he recorded his Home Trilogy with the world-renowned percussion group Nexus, and is soon to release a new recording of solo and chamber works by Alejandro Viñao with the Grammy Award-winning Third Coast Percussion. In 2006 he recorded Schwantner’s Percussion Concerto with the Calgary Wind Ensemble on the Albany label. He has been a featured artist at nine Percussive Arts Society International Conventions. In 1992 he presented his New York solo debut in Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall and in 1998 he performed his London debut in the Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall. Burritt has extensive chamber and orchestral experience and has performed with the Chicago Chamber Musicians, The Chicago Symphony, Nexus, Third Coast Percussion, and the Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra. Burritt is also active as a composer, with three concertos to his credit as well as numerous solo and chamber works for marimba and percussion. His works for solo marimba have become standard repertoire for the instrument, and are frequently required repertoire on international competitions. Commissions include The World Marimba Competition (Stuttgart, Germany), The Paris International Marimba Competition, Nexus, and the Paris Percussion Group. Burritt is published with Keyboard Percussion Publications, C. Alan, Masters Music, and Innovative Percussion. Burritt is also an artist/clinician and product design consultant for Malletech, where he has developed his own line of marimba mallets and the MJB Signature Marimba. He is an artist/educational clinician with the Zildjian Company, Evans Drum Heads, and Yamaha Drums. Burritt is the President of the Percussive Arts Society, was a member of the PAS Board of Directors from 1996 to 2008, a contributing editor for Percussive Notes magazine from 1991 to 2006, and was chairman of the PAS Keyboard Committee from 2004 to 2010. Burritt currently serves as Professor of Percussion at the Eastman School of Music. Prior to his appointment at Eastman, Burritt was Professor of Percussion at Northwestern University from 1995 to 2008, where he developed a program of international distinction. Burritt received his Bachelor (’84) and Master of Music (’86) degrees, as well as the prestigious Performers Certificate, from the Eastman School of Music.
SELECTED PROGRAM NOTES The Doomsday Machine is named for an episode from Star Trek, my favorite science fiction series of all time. The "Doomsday Machine" is an
enormous weapon, both in size and strength, that was left adrift in space. This war machine was capable of destroying whole planets and was discovered, of course, by Captain Kirk and his crew. The Enterprise ultimately conquered the "Doomsday Machine" by feeding it another star ship that was set to self destruct. My "Doomsday Machine" is meant to be an aurally and visually captivating work that explores a multitude of wood, metal, and membraned sounds in an explosively energetic dance. - Michael Burritt
I have often thought that performing and amusement park rides hold much in common. For me, there are two distinct sensations that we experience in both scenarios that entice us to take the “ride” time and time again. The physical sensation of the movements of sudden meter change and rhythmic syncopation creates the feeling of “rounding” the corners of a rollercoaster ride where centripetal force pulls our body in all directions. The mental sensation – like that of a game where chance and gambling are involved – is not dissimilar from taking the stage and performing this piece or any other. Think of Rounders as a “thrill ride” at the Burritt Amusement Park. Rounders was commissioned by the 2009 Paris International Marimba Competition and its director, Frederic Macarez. - Michael Burritt
Home Trilogy is a reference to both my home in Rochester and “our collective home,” the earth. The piece is in three distinct movements and spans
approximately 20 minutes. The first movement is titled Painted Hills, and refers to the stunning tapestry the landscape of colored leaves creates in the fall season. The movement is orchestrated for solo marimba and pitched metallic percussion. The second is titled White Pines, and was inspired by the energy, crispness, and majesty of these snow-covered trees in the winter months. It is scored for solo marimba with both keyboard and battery percussion. The final movement, titled Home, serves as the epilogue to the work. The solo marimba is a continuously evolving harmonic motor with sparsely placed pitched gong and keyboard percussion interjections. Home is dedicated to and commissioned by the internationally renowned percussion group, Nexus. It was premiered on a concert dedicated to sustainability and environmental awareness at the Eastman School of Music on May 1, 2015. - Michael Burritt
UPCOMING WELLS SCHOOL OF MUSIC EVENTS For full event details visit www.wcupa.edu/music or call (610) 436-2739 Monday, November 29, 2021, 8:00 PM Faculty Recital: Nicholas Provenzale, baritone & Terry Klinefelter, piano Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center
Wednesday, December 1, 2021, 8:15 PM Trumpet Ensemble Concert Rob Skoniczin, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center
Thursday, December 2, 2021, 12:00 PM Madeleine Wing Adler Concert Series: Jazz Division Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Grand Foyer Performing Arts Center
Monday, December 6, 2021, 8:00 PM Faculty Recital: Elizabeth Pfaffle, horn with guest artist Margaret Tung and WCU Chamber Winds Philips Autograph Library Philips Memorial Building
Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 8:15 PM Flute Ensemble Concert Kimberly Reighley, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center
Thursday, December 9, 2021, 11:00 AM WSoM Fall Convocation Recital Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center
Thursday, December 9, 2021, 8:15 PM *Statesmen & Jazz Combos Concert Daniel Cherry, director Madeleine Wing Adler Theatre Performing Arts Center
Saturday, December 11, 2021, 3:00 PM *100th Annual Holiday Program Ryan Kelly, director Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall Philips Memorial Building
*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 “Wells School of Music Excellence 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/WellsSchoolofMusic and Vimeo.com/WSOM 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