Percussion Showcase Inspires and Intimidates

The International Percussion Collage Showcase, presented by the Kalamazoo College Music Department on Wednesday, February 25th, managed to be an intimate, educational, and inspiring event, despite being held in the FAB’s sometimes-cavernous Dalton Theater.

The event consisted of performances by four separate groups, each inspired by the percussion styles of four different cultures. Though each act presented was very distinct from the others in both style and sound, together the four gave the audience an excellent sampling of traditional percussion from around the world.

The Mridangam Ensemble, composed of members Anjelika Derhgawen K’12, Russell Becker K’09, and K community member Tom Nehil, performed first. Nehil also gave an introduction to the mridangam, which is a traditional Indian double sided-drum played for different sounds on each side. This “lesson” added to the informality of the showcase. It seemed an odd choice for the showcase’s first act, since the mridangam’s sound isn’t very loud and doesn’t immediately capture a listener’s attention. However, it was effective, as its flat, echo-y tones and the subtle harmonies of the two songs played drew the audience into a trance-like state and allowed listeners to be easily drawn in to what would become a more commanding concert by following acts.

The marimba duo that followed wasn’t quite that yet; however, this was certainly not a detriment. Students Esperanza Cantu K’11 and Cait Sherman K’09 gave an enrapturing, and haunting performance of two songs from Brazilian composer Ney Rosauro, entitled “Atirei o Pau no Gato” and “Todo o mundo passa.” The simple melodies and childlike wonder of the slower-paced songs shifted from major to minor with ease, and the musicians never missed a note. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case when the two women switched marimbas during the songs, causing abrupt, awkward pauses. Otherwise, the performance was flawless, and brought the audience still deeper into communion with the musical acts.

The showcase took a turn for the spiritual when Western Michigan University’s Brazilian Capoeira group took the stage. As the group’s leader explained, Capoeira is an Afro-Brazilian martial art practiced by South American slaves disguised to look like a dance.

What followed after the introduction was at times uplifting, trance-like, and at all times completely graceful on the part of the performers. The ten or so members of the group playfought, cartwheeled, and did headstands, accompanied by two berimbaus – bowlike instruments that sounded like sitars – and a bongo. It was strikingly beautiful, and as the group’s music and performance picked up speed and momentum toward the end, it was a perfect transition into the Kalamazoo Taiko Ensemble’s act.

The group, led by Kouri Akagi K’11, literally shook the seats of Dalton Theater with its two songs. As the twenty or so members of the ensemble, playing in groups of three around five drums, switched off during the first song, it really felt like a battle of the drums. However, it was easy to tell who the senior, more proficient members of the group were – these were the ones who played first and against each other. But, this was the only flaw in an outstanding. The booming, thunderous sounds of the taiko drums filled the ears, leaving an impression not soon to be forgotten.