The Ohio State University Percussion Ensemble

The Ohio State Percussion Ensemble had the honor and privilege of being taught the piece by rote (without sheet music) by Russell Hartenberger, one of the founding members of Steve Reich and Musicians and the percussion group Nexus. Hartenberger notes, “Through learning Drumming via imitation and repetition and foregoing notation, the players bypass the step of memory transference from the printed page thus giving them a heightened awareness of the process of the piece.”

Drumming is divided into four parts that are performed without pause. The first part is for four pairs of tuned bongo drums; the second, for three marimbas played by nine players together with two women’s voices; the third, for three glockenspiels played by four players together with whistling and piccolo; and the fourth section is for all these instruments and voices combined.

Regarding the piece composer Steve Reich explains, “Drumming has only one basic rhythmic pattern throughout. This pattern undergoes changes of phase position, pitch, and timbre, but all the performers play this pattern, or some part of it, throughout the entire piece.” As a result, perceptions of meter and pulse become an individual experience for each audience member.

To open the concert, Ohio State Percussion Ensemble will present Reich’s work Clapping Music, followed by Clapping Music Variations, by Glen Kotche. For both compositions, the ensemble will be joined by area high school percussionists and alumni of the Ohio State percussion program.

Hartenberger will present a preconcert discussion with ensemble directors Susan Powell and Joseph Krygier at 3:30 PM.

IMAGE CAPTION
Drumming, photo: Nick Fancher.