The annual West Virginia University Fall Percussion Ensemble Concert, to be held Friday, Oct. 14, at the Creative Arts Center, will feature three different soloists performing exciting marimba concertos.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre.

According to George Willis, director of the WVU percussion department, the program will also include “Ionisation,” written by Edgar Varese in 1931, which is considered one of the first works written for the concert percussion ensemble.

“Varese is considered one of the most influential composers of the 20th century,” he said.

Other pieces include “Plasma Canon Predicament,” a marimba concerto written by WVU alumnus David Newcomb.

“This is the world’s first and only ‘Speed Metal Marimba Concerto,’” Willis said. “David Newcomb is fond of video game music and many of his compositions are appropriate to this genre. West Virginia native Travis Nestor will be featured as the marimba soloist on this work.”

A marimba concerto titled “Rite of Passage” will feature music student Tyler Shreve as soloist.

“Tyler will perform this high-energy work, along with a percussion trio,” Willis said. “The work is rhythmic, fast and virtuosic.

“We will once again end our concert with the unforgettable ‘Adagio for Strings’ by Samuel Barber, performed by the entire Percussion Ensemble in a mass marimba choir,” he said. “This is one of the most popular classical music works ever written and has been arranged for virtually every type of ensemble in existence. This has become a favorite piece of the WVU Percussion Ensemble and the audience.”

Tickets for the Percussion Ensemble Concert are available at the Mountainlair and Creative Arts Center Box Offices or by calling 304-293-SHOW.

See the WVU Percussion Facebook site at: West Virginia University Percussion.

-WVU-

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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