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Cal Poly Humboldt Percussion and Calypso Concert

Fulkerson Recital Hall

The Department of Dance, Music, and Theatre at Cal Poly Humboldt presents Contemporary Music for Percussion performed by the Cal Poly Humboldt Percussion Ensemble; The Exciting Rhythms of the Brasilian tradition performed by the World Percussion Group; And the Festive Steel Drum Sounds of the Caribbean performed by the Humboldt Calypso Band. The performances are directed by Eugene Novotney & Howard Kaufman. Join us Saturday, December 3rd at 8:00 p.m. at the Fulkerson Recital Hall. Concert tickets are $10 General, $5 Children, and FREE for Cal Poly Humboldt students with ID. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at centerarts.humboldt.edu From the “All Events” drop down menu select “School of Dance, Music, and Theatre” and select your event.

Director Eugene Novotney is enthusiastic about the evenings program, “Every piece and every musical arrangement on this concert are phenomenal! I am so happy to share this music with the Humboldt community, and truly, if you make the effort to come out to this concert, you will not be disappointed!”

The Cal Poly Humboldt Percussion Ensemble begins the program premiering two exciting new works never heard on the North Coast. The first is a piece composed by Dustin Schulze entitled, The R.E.M.Cycle. This work features a large percussion orchestra consisting of four marimbas, four vibraphones, chimes, glockenspeil, five bass drums, and grand piano. The piece has a strong rhythmic drive throughout, and the colors and textures are vibrant and beautiful. Piano is featured prominently throughout the piece, weaving in and out of the haunting melodic lines played by the marimbas and vibraphones. The strong rhythmic punctuations of the bass drums add fascinating colors to the dense layers of the overall soundscape and serve to drive the piece to a profound finale. The R.E.M.Cycle is both unique and captivating, and the Cal Poly Humboldt Percussion Ensemble is very excited to share their performance with the North Coast audience

The second featured work of the evening is the North Coast premiere of Ivan Trevino’s percussion masterpiece, Catching Shadows. Catching Shadows is an absolutely beautiful piece of music that features two marimba soloists accompanied by four vibraphones and three percussionists. The piece is built on complex interlocking marimba melodies supported by shifting vibraphone lines that create an overall sound that is both harmonic and profound. Considered to be a modern percussion masterwork, Catching Shadows has helped to make Ivan Trevino one of the most important young composers writing for percussion today.

The Cal Poly Humboldt Percussion Ensemble will also perform a work composed by its director, Eugene Novotney, entitled SCRATCH for an ensemble of guiros (or scraped gourds) often found in the central and south American folkloric music traditions. SCRATCH is a very creative and highly rhythmic work which explores the sounds of the scraped gourd instruments in an inventive and playful way. SCRATCH was inspired by the composer’s lifelong battle with seasonal allergies, and the itching and scratching that those allergies often generate. As a result, SCRATCH was written with a good sense of humor and a strong sense of purpose and groove.

The first half of the show will end with a suite of traditional Brasilian music performed by the Cal Poly Humboldt World Percussion Group under the direction of Howard Kaufman, all performed on traditional Brasilian instruments. The group has been working extremely hard on their authentic presentation of these folkloric Brasilian rhythms and grooves. Says Novotney, “I am so proud of the hard work of our students and community members this semester. Everyone has given their maximum effort to bring these pieces to their best, and the groups just sound awesome. I am humbled by the supreme commitment of our members and the musical excellence that they have achieved!”

The second half of the program will feature the festive dance music of the Humboldt State Calypso Band. For over a third of a century, the Calypso Band has been performing and entertaining local audiences and has proven to be one of Humboldt County’s favorite and most enduring musical ensembles. The Calypso Band will feature several high-energy compositions from the Caribbean in their set, including the modern Panorama classic from the island of Trinidad – Pan in ‘A’ Minor by Lord Kitchener & Jit Samaroo and VISION 2020 by Len “Boogsie” Sharpe. The Humboldt State Calypso Band prides itself in maintaining an accurate and authentic connection to the roots of the steel band movement and the innovative musicians of Trinidad & Tobago, the island nation on which this unique percussion phenomenon was born, and this performance will represent some of the best music that Trinidad & Tobago has produced. Eugene Novotney adds, “It will be sure to rock the house!”

Novotney urges you to not miss out on an incredible musical experience, “This concert is certain to be an evening of significant and memorable performances with strong rhythmic focus. The energy of the Humboldt audience is what makes our concerts special. We feed off the emotion of our crowd, and that support gives us the focus and drive to play our very best. We cannot do it alone—we hope to see you there!”

DATES/TIMES

WHERE

• Fulkerson Recital Hall

PRICE

• $10
• $5 Children
• Free Cal Poly Students with ID