Julliard Percussion Ensemble

The Julliard Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Daniel Druckman, performed last night @ the Sharp Theatre a very contemporary and and attention grabbing program.   Percussion instruments are interesting for their tonal vibrations and ability to sustain resonance.  All the compositions explored the quality of blending different percussive sounds and the diffusion of their sounds blending & fading into one another.  Vibraphones (contemporary "riffs" on the xylophone) were featured as in Steve Reich's Mallet Quartet (2010.)  Differing styles of mallet heads were utilized to create variations in tone & harmony.  In John Luther Adam's …and bells remembered (2005) the bass bow was played on the vibraphone melding percussion & string instruments for an inventive contrast in tonal chords.  Guo Wenjing's Parade (2003)  was an explosive and energetic composition; 3 percussionists with individualized mallet sticks pounded away at "communal" canon drums.  The miusic had a very propulsive, bombastic style.  I was watching to see if there would be any actual discord in harmony amongst the musicians.  The program was never dull and was not conducive for a "restorative" meditation.   I find it exciting to attend concerts such as these, with compositions that are propelling music into the future.