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.