Contact: Kay Fike Jones
The Mississippi State University Percussion Ensemble and two special guests will be featured in a Nov. 9 concert in Lee Hall auditorium.
To begin at 7:30 p.m., the free program features Brazilian composer/percussionist Ney Rosauro and Mark Applebaum, MSU associate professor of music education. Music education instructor Robert J. Damm is ensemble director.
The group will perform Rosauro's "Concerto for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble" which showcases his virtuosity as a marimbist, as well as his skill as a composer. He also will perform a percussion suite based on Brazilian myths, play the traditional African-Brazilian instrument called the berimbau and lead the ensemble in a performance of a samba.
Applebaum will perform "Crispy Critters," a rock and roll composition for "quasi-percussion instrument." His solo, chamber, choral, orchestral, and electro-acoustic music has been performed throughout the United States, Japan and Europe, including the Young Nordic Music Festival in Sweden and the Festival Spaziomusica in Italy.
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Rosauro began his music studies playing guitar and bass. He studied composition and conducting at the Universidade de Brazilia and began attending percussion classes. He holds a master's degree from the Hochschule fur Music Wurzburg in Germany and a doctorate from the University of Miami. Since 1987, Rosauro has been professor of percussion at the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria in southern Brazil.
Applebaum received a bachelor's degree from Carleton College and master's and doctoral degrees from the University of California at San Diego. He joined the MSU faculty last year.
During the diverse program, the ensemble also will perform "Para Rafa," featuring West African rhythms and instruments; "Ceremonial," one of the most often performed "classical" percussion ensemble pieces; "La Negra," a traditional Mexican folk song; and "Swords of Moda-Ling," inspired by Japanese dances.
The Percussion Ensemble was founded by Damm in 1995. Performing in numerous concerts, festivals, workshops and clinics throughout the state, the group's repertoire includes a mix of classical, contemporary and ethnic music.