Percussion Ensemble 

Percussion

The University of Washington Percussion Ensemble (Bonnie Whiting, director) performs early and recent works for percussion ensemble in its Autumn Quarter concert, including all three of John Cage's Constructions, plus brand new works from the Everybody Hits consortium. 

Masks are required in all indoor spaces on the UW campus, and patrons must show proof of vaccination or recent (within 72 hours of the performance) negative COVID-19 test for entry to live events at Meany Hall. Enhanced sanitation measures and touchless ticketing are among other safety measures in effect for 2021-22. Details of these policies and procedures are at: https://artsevents.washington.edu/covid-protocols 


Program

First Construction in Metal (1939) ........................................................... John Cage (1912-1992)

IHVUSTÚ I (2021) .................................................................................. Finola Merivale (b. 1987)

Recover. (2020) ..................................................................................... Aeryn Santillan (b. 1990)

Second Construction (1940) .................................................................................................. Cage

Super Heavy (2020) ........................................................................... Susanna Hancock (b. 1992)

Third Construction (1941) ..................................................................................................... Cage


UW PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE

Bonnie Whiting, Director

Connor Aksama, Scott Farkas, Brindha Jaeger, Ryan Baker,  Daisy Fernandez,

Jonathan Rodriguez, Aaron Michael Butler,  Abigail George, Grace Rosing, 

Billie Chance, Cyrus Graham, Sophia Schmidt, Simon Harty


Program Note

John Cage’s three Constructions (1939-41) were primarily composed while he was working in

Seattle at the Cornish School, organizing sound and materials into architecture that would

eventually change the world of music and dance. These early experimental works were exceptional

not just in their materials (resonant found objects alongside percussion instruments

from several musical traditions) but also in their rhythmic structures. We present these vintage

Constructions alongside three of our discipline’s newest works for chamber percussion ensemble.

The pieces by emerging composers Finola Merivale, Aeryn Santillan, and Susanna Hancock

were commissioned as part of the 2020/21 “Everybody Hits” consortium, and similarly

point toward new futures for the percussion ensemble.

Many thanks to Scott Farkas, Jonathan Rodriguez, Colin Todd, Joanne De Pue, Adam Groh, and

Director Taricani/the UW School of Music for all the help and support that made tonight’s performance

possible.


Bios

Everybody Hits

Everybody Hits is a commissioning project organized by percussionist Adam Groh to create six new percussion ensemble works by a diverse group of living composers that are accessibly by a wide range of ages and ability levels. Works are by composers Jonathan Bingham, Aeryn Santillan, Susanna Hancock, Finola Merivale, Emma O’Halloran, and Shruthi Rajasekar. Learn more about the consortium.