Percuss

The UVA Percussion Ensemble welcomed Peter Martin from VCU to the stage on Tuesday night for a joint performance. I had never been to a percussion show and really had no idea what to expect but with my new found freedom, now that my thesis is gone, I figured, why not?! I'll go check it out.

There were so many instruments, so many different sounds, all coming together in unison to actually form a sound that made sense. My favorite part of the night was Peter Martin's solo performance pictured here. After putting in his ear plugs and proclaiming that it would be loud, he set to it, turning his body a few degrees to the left and right every second as he reached a different instrument and produced a new sound. With two mallets in each hand and his foot against a pedal, Martin performed a 4 or 5 minute piece which seemed flawless. Also, the conductor was so full of energy and her whole body instructed the ensemble what to do - her arms in the air and her feet and head moving at time signature intervals - she was a fun part of the performance to watch. All in all the evening was really cool. Though, I will admit there was a dance performance after intermission in which 3 dancers in white pranced around jumping and running on stage and a 4th dancer, a girl wearing white spandex and a mask, walked inch-by-inch slowly in the back of the stage. That whole part had a Dada feel to it that I really didn't get, but oh well.