Presenting Contemporary Music for Percussion performed by the HSU Percussion Ensemble; The Exciting Rhythms of the Afro-Cuban Tradition performed by the HSU World Percussion Group; And the Festive Steel Drum Sounds of the Caribbean performed by the Humboldt State Calypso Band. These exceptional ensembles, directed by Eugene Novotney and Howard Kaufman, will be presenting their first live performances in over two years on Saturday, December 4th at 8:00 p.m. in Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus.  Tickets are $10 General, $5 Child, $5 for HSU students with ID and can be purchased online at music.humboldt.edu/upcoming.

PLEASE NOTE! In order to best protect the campus community, beginning December 1st, proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test result within three days prior will be required for any visitor attending an event on campus who is not staff, faculty, or a student. Additionally, facemasks will be required for admission. Because seating is limited, purchasing tickets in advance is strongly recommended!

With their first live performance since the COVID shutdown, the HSU Percussion Ensemble will be featuring the North Coast Premier of an exciting new work composed by Dustin Schulze entitled Shades of Glass. This is a stunning work featuring a large percussion orchestra consisting of four marimbas, three vibraphones, chimes, glockenspeil, piano, timpani, a wide variety of drums, and a full range of percussion sound effects. The piece has a strong rhythmic drive throughout, and the colors and textures are vibrant and beautiful. The piano is featured prominently, weaving in and out of the haunting melodic lines played by the marimbas and vibraphones. The strong rhythmic punctuations of the drums and percussion instruments serve to mark the form of the piece while adding fascinating colors to the shifting layers of the overall soundscape. The title is an homage to the contemporary composer, Philip Glass, and the piece is widely considered to be a modern percussion masterwork.

Also featured on the show will be Christopher Rouse’s engaging and bombastic composition Ogoun Badagris, which is based on Haitian ritual rhythms to the deity, Ogoun. In Haitian Vodou, Ogoun is a loa and orisha who presides over fire, iron, hunting, politics and war. He is the patron of smiths, and is usually displayed with a number of attributes: a machete or sabre, rum and tobacco. Ogoun is the traditional warrior and is seen as a powerful deity of metal work, similar to Ares and Hephaestus in Greek mythology and Visvakarma in classical Hinduism. He is also prominently represented as Saint George in the syncretic traditions of contemporary Brazil. As such, Ogoun is mighty, powerful and triumphal, yet is also known to exhibit the rage and destructiveness of the warrior whose strength and violence must not turn against the community he serves. The first half of the show will end with a suite of traditional Afro-Cuban music performed by the HSU World Percussion Group under the direction of Howard Kaufman, all performed on traditional folkloric instruments.

The second half of the show will feature the festive dance music of the Humboldt State Calypso Band. It is significant to note that last spring the Calypso Band celebrated its 35th year of existence at Humboldt State University, all under the direction of its founder, Dr. Eugene Novotney. 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 musical ensembles. The Calypso Band will continue its 35th year celebration this fall by featuring several high-energy compositions from the Caribbean in their set, including the modern Panorama classic from the island of Trinidad called 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. This performance will represent some of the best music that Trinidad & Tobago has produced.

Quotes by Eugene Novotney:

“We want to see everyone come out to our show and support our efforts. All performers will be wearing masks on stage, and please remember to bring yours too. We want to promote a safe environment where everyone feels good. We just cannot wait to play for you all again!”

“The COVID shutdown prevented us from doing the thing that all musicians love the most - performing in public. We are so happy to be back this fall semester performing live music for live human beings again!”

“Although we could not perform in public during the COVID era, the Calypso Band continued to work extremely hard on our music and expanded our art form into the virtual performance realm. You can check out our work from last year on YouTube. Just search for the Humboldt State Calypso Band and check out our videos of the Pan in Unity medley and VISION 2020. I think that you will be amazed at what we were able to accomplish!”

“This special “Welcome Back” concert is certain to be an evening of significant and memorable performances. We hope to see you there!”