Recital: Parker Olson '23 MM, Percussion

Joseph Tompkins

Walkin’ Down Coolidge

March

Rudimental Rondo

Program note

Joseph Tompkins has become one of the most well-known composers for the snare drum, known for his combination of French and American rudimental styles of drumming. Each solo on the program highlights a certain theme and then variants of it, and shows the fluid, relaxed nature of the various unique rhythms he uses in his solos.

Johann Sebastian Bach | from Lute Suite in E Minor, BWV 996

I. Prelude: Presto
II. Allemande
VI. Gigue

Program note

Bach based this Suite on a series of dance movements, each with its own style and character. This was one of the first pieces written for the Lute or “Lautenwerk”, which was an instrument that meant to imitate the lute on a harpsichord. Because he wrote the music with this in mind, it has been performed by both guitarists and lute players as well as keyboard, such as the marimba.

Dave Hollinden | Cold Pressed

Program note

“The term “cold pressed” refers to the method of extracting olive oil which results in the most robust and full-bodied flavor. Syncopation, contrasting timbres and rock-influenced style are blended together in music which is vivid, spicy, and obsessively persistent.”                                                                                        
– Dave Hollinden

Astor Piazzolla | Tango Etude No. 3

Program note

Astor Piazzolla was an Argentinian composer best known for his composition of his native Tango music. He was a student of Boulanger, who taught other contemporary composers, such as Copland. Boulanger told Piazzolla to ignore his classical studies and compose music that meant something to him: Tango.  The Tango style of music originated in the bars and brothels of Buenos Aires, and his 6 Tango Etudes were written primarily for flute, although other instruments have also performed this music, such as violin or vibraphone.

Al Anderson (arr. Parker Olson) | Steppin’ ‘Round

Program note

This xylophone piece is in the style of ragtime and is a fun, light-hearted piece that showcases the xylophone as well as its accompanying instruments. It was written in the normal ragtime style of having the main theme, a trio section, and repeating the theme again at the end.