Concert Review- Percussion Ensemble II Percussion is commonly referred to as "the backbone" or "the heartbeat" of a musical
Ensemble. The concert at Moore’s School of Music showcased the many different sounds that can be made with percussion instruments. It was amazing how many sounds can be created by hitting something. Four of the instruments were non-pitched percussion sets. There’s your standard orchestral percussion set, containing chimes, woodblock hits, triangle, a gong and cymbal set, with various sounds for each instrument; a hand drum kit, containing conga, bongo, and of course a standard drum set, featuring bass drum, snare, and tom sets. There are different mallets, with different heads, which produce different sounds. The xylophonists and drummers sometimes switched mallets multiple times during a song. The result is an invigorating array of pings, dings, and dongs. The remaining instruments were pitched percussion. These include marimba, timpani, and a xylophone. What is so impressive is the sound the ensemble can create when they all play differently, all at once. When playing all together, they can create a sound that would not be possible if one person did not play their part.
It was truly inspiring to hear. The songs performed showcased percussionists talents to have tremendous control of their instruments. Sometimes they need to hit the percussion instrument very hard and produce a long ringing sound. Sometimes they must hit it as delicately as they can to produce a tiny sound. The timing is also amazing. Everyone is playing something different, and it all comes together perfectly. The performers wore black shirts and slacks. The director’s were Blake Wilkins, Alec Warren. The concert was a success, and the audience enjoyed it.
Concert etiquette is an important thing to know. It’s even more important to