Percussion Ensembles
Percussion Ensemble
Prof. Joseph Gramley and Prof. Jonathan Ovalle, Directors
The University of Michigan Percussion Ensemble has commissioned, performed, and recorded works from a global array of musical cultures. Many of the compositions it has premiered have gone on to enter the standard percussion canon. The ensemble has toured Internationally including successful tours of Japan and Taiwan where it performed with marimba virtuoso Keiko Abe and participated in a televised concert with the famed traditional-music group, Pro Musica Nipponia. The ensemble has also been a featured ensemble at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), the American Orff-Schulwerk Association International Convention, and has performed in Merkin Hall, NYC. Closer to its Michigan home, the group has often performed as part of the MIchigan Music Conference, the Thunder Bay Arts Council’s Artist Series as well as at the Holland Festival.
The percussion ensemble has several recordings to its credit, including Border Crossing, Imaginary Landscape, Coyote Dreams, and Transmutations and Metamorphoses, all available on the Equilibrium label. The ensemble's newest CD entitled "Locally Grown" features works by Michigan percussion and composition program alumni, including David Hollinden, Gabriela Frank, Anthony DiSanza, Kristen Kuster, and Erik Santos.
World Percussion Ensemble
The University of Michigan World Percussion Ensemble is part performance ensemble and part classroom/workshop. The ensemble explores a broad spectrum of percussive styles and rhythmic systems including popular and folkloric Afro-Cuban styles, Middle-Eastern frame drumming, Steel Drums, Akan Drumming, and North and South Indian Styles. Guest Artist master classes are an integral part of the World Percussion Ensemble and have included artists in Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music, Ghanaian Akan Drumming, Mbira, Tabla, and Kanjira. The World Percussion Ensemble is directed by Joseph Gramley, Jonathan Ovalle, Dan Piccolo, and Kwase Ampene.
World Percussion Ensemble: 4-Semester Curriculum Rotation
Fall - African
Winter - North & South Indian
Fall - Steel Drum and/or Middle Eastern
Winter - Afro-Cuban
Brazilian Ensemble
The University of Michigan Brazilian Ensemble, Vencedores, is a high energy Brazilian samba batteria. Vencedores means “Victors” in Portuguese. The student-run organization is sponsored by the percussion program. Vencedores has performed benefits for Habitat for Humanity and the U of M Hospital, appeared on the radio show Radio Free Bacon, and continues to perform at various events including the Michigan athletic events, the Kerrytown Market & Shops Concerts in the Courtyard and most recently at the 2012 University of Michigan Spring Commencement at Michigan Stadium. The ensemble is also in it's second year of presenting a major showcase performance at the Necto club in downtown Ann Arbor in celebration of Fat Tuesday.
University of Michigan Percussion Ensemble - Recent Past Repertoire
February 8, 2013 | "Whispers and Stars" | Stamps Auditorium
Movement V from Postludes - Elliot Cole
A Ceiling full of Stars - Blake Tyson
Memphis Stomp - Dave Grusin (Arr. Dave Steinquest)
Higuita - Steven Whibley
Mercury from The Planets - Gustav Holst (Arr. James Ancona)
Movement VI from Postludes - Elliot Cole
Skylark Orange Circles - Gordon Stout
Whispers - David Skidmore
Movement VII from Postludes- Elliot Cole
January 24, 2013 | "Dave Hollinden: Composer Portrait" | McIntosh Theater
Featuring the Donald Sinta Saxophone Quartet; Melissa Coppola, piano; Jonathan Hulting-Cohen, saxophone
Vesper Trains - Marc LeMay
The Whole Toy Laid Down - Dave Hollinden
Platinum - Dave Hollinden
In Time to Come - Dave Hollinden
Immersion - Dave Hollinden (WORLD PREMIERE)
Quartet no. 2 - Dave Hollinden
November 18, 2012 | "Legacy: The Percussion Music of John Cage" | McIntosh Theater
First Construction - John Cage
Second Construction - John Cage
Quartet - John Cage
Dance Music from Elfrid Ide - John Cage
Amores - John Cage
Trio - John Cage
Quartet for tom toms, from She is Asleep - John Cage
Third Construction - John Cage
November 2, 2012 | "Africa and the Shape of Time" | University of Michigan Museum of Art
Kpanlogo - Traditional (Arr. Lobi/Naranjo)
Sridulations For The Good Luck Feast: 1 - Billy Martin
Variations on a Ghanian Theme - Daniel Levitan
Orbit Design - Derek Bermel
Akadinda Trio - Emmanuel Sejourne
Sridulations For The Good Luck Feast: II - Billy Martin
Cinquante Six - Ali Farka Toure (Arr. Dan Piccolo)
Mbira - David Hahn
Pattern Transformation - Lukas Ligeti
Sridulations For The Good Luck Feast: III - Billy Martin
Jong Kplek Kple - Traditional (Arr. Lobi/Naranjo)
September 15, 2012 | Graduate Percussion Group | "John Cage Centennial Celebration" | Museum of Contemporary Art, Detroit (MoCAD)
First Construction - John Cage
Second Construction - John Cage
Quartet - John Cage
Credo in Us - John Cage
Third Construction - John Cage
April 17, 2012 | Graduate Percussion Quartet | McIntosh Theater
Threads I - Paul Lansky
Angels - Stuart Saunders Smith
Third Construction - John Cage
Music in Similar Motion - Phillip Glass
Dust into Dust - John Luther Adams
Threads X - Paul Lansky
March 29, 2012 | Pop Percussion Ensemble & World Percussion Ensemble | Stamps Auditorium
Rumba/Guaguanco (Trad.)
Mamblues - Cal Tjader
Bembe 6/8 (Trad.)
Killer Joe - Benny Golson
Suite for Solo Drum Set and Percussion Ensemble - David Mancini
One Notch Higher - Bill Molenhof
Square Corners - Dave Samuels
Common Bonds - Jonathan Ovalle
The Heat of the Day - Pat Metheny (Arr. Jonathan Ovalle)
March 27, 2012 | "Senior and Graduate Showcase" | McIntosh Theater
Concerto for Darrabuka and Percussion - Anthony DiSanza
Mudra - Bob Becker
Gryo - Tomer Yariv
Concerto for Timpani - Ney Rosauro
Shadowchasers - Michael Burritt
January 28, 2012 | "Composer Portrait: Sydney Hodkinson" | McIntosh Theater
Kerberos for Solo Snare Drum - Sydney Hodkinson
Drawings Set #1 - Sydney Hodkinson
Drawings Set #4 - Sydney Hodkinson
Drawings Set #3 - Sydney Hodkinson
Night Moves - Sydney Hodkinson
Hammer for Solo Marimba - Sydney Hodkinson
Drawings Set #9 - Sydney Hodkinson
December 4, 2011 | "Steve Reich 75th Birthday Celebration" | Rackham Auditorium
Nagoya Marimbas - Steve Reich
Clapping Music - Steve Reich
Clapping Music Variations- Glen Kotche/ Steve Reich
Mallet Quartet - Steve Reich
Music for Pieces of Wood (for drums) - Steve Reich/Arr. David Cossin
Part I from Drumming - Steve Reich
Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ - Steve Reich
December 9, 2011 | "Ginastera Festival" | Hill Auditorium
Cantata Para America Magica op. 27 - Alberto Ginastera (Caroline Helton, Soprano)
October 23, 2011 | "Woodcuts" | University of Michigan Museum of Art
Piano Phase - Steve Reich
Apple Blossom - Peter Garland
Sculpture in Wood - Rudiger Pawassar
Muybridge Cycles - Daniel Koontz
January 22, 2011 | "Crescendos" | McIntosh Theater
Continuum - Gyorgy Ligeti
Trio Per Uno - Mvt. I - Nebosja Jovan Zivkovic
New Work for Marimba Quartet - Christopher Deane
Parade "Xuan" - Guo Wenjing
Six Marimbas - Steve Reich
States Medley - Bob Becker
featuring Sam Livingston, xylophone
October 26, 2010 | "Expatriations" | University of Michigan Museum of Art
IV, Version 1.0 - Johanna Magdalena Beyer
Estudios de Frontera - Alejandro Vinao
I. Homage to Nancarrow
IV, Version 2.0 - Johanna Magdalena Beyer
Estudios de Frontera - Alejandro Vinao
II. Visita a la Frontera
IV, Version 3.0 - Johanna Magdalena Beyer
les moutons de panurge - Frederic Rzewski
K'in Sventa Ch'ul Me'tik Kwadalupe - Osvaldo Golijov (Arr. Joseph Gramley)
Sky Ghost - Russell Hartenberger
For Zero - Kojiro Umezaki WORLD PREMIERE
April 3, 2010 | "Introductions" | McIntosh Theater
Pendulum Music - Steve Reich
Voice of the Sun - Akira Nishimura (Donald Sinta, saxophone; Nancy Ambrose King, oboe; Katelynn Heasley, marimba)
Moto Perpetuo for Viola and Percussion Ensemble - Braxton Blake (featuring Peter Kenote, Viola) U.S. PREMIERE
PTA - Dan Piccolo (Mike Shea, drumset; Bob Lester, electronics; Dan Piccolo, tabla) WORLD PREMIERE
Pukul Wainui - Gareth Farr (featuring the University of Michigan Gamelan; Gareth Farr, conductor) WORLD PREMIERE
January 30, 2010 | World Percussion Ensemble | McIntosh Theater
Niño Elegua - Neeraj Mehta/John Santos/Omar Sosa
Osain/Osanyin - Mark Lamson/Michael Spiro
Aichara Icha - Traditional Arará (Arr. Neeraj Mehta)
Bandera - Traditional Arará
Madre del Mar - Neeraj Mehta/Yosvany Terry
Cuba Linda - Gregorio “Goyo” Hernandez (Arr. Neeraj Mehta)
November 22, 2009 | "Locally Grown" | McIntosh Theater
Speak Softly - David T. Little
Little Trees - Kristin Kuster WORLD PREMIERE
SUN DOGS - Erik Santos
Reckless - Dave Hollinden
Martyrdom of the Basiji - Subaram Raman
Topsy-Turvy - Michael W. Udow
Graceful Ghost Rag - William Bolcom (Arr. Jeffrey Barudin)
Shaken Not Stirred - Michael Daugherty
March 29, 2009 | "World in My Eyes" | McIntosh Theater
Kata-Kata - Erik Santos
Okho - Iannis Xenakis
Elegy: Snow in June - Tan Dun (featuring David Requiro, cello)
Border Crossing - David Vayo
The Guiros Talk - Dafnis Prieto
Danza del Saqsampillo - Gabriela Lena Frank
Perfectly Frank - Daniel Levitan
La Muerte de Angel - Astor Piazzolla
February 2, 2009 | World Percussion Ensemble | McIntosh Theater
Traditional Folkloric Afro-Cuban Music
Bata Ensemble
The Guiros Talk - Dafnis Prieto
Music for Pieces of Wood - Steve Reich
Hard Times - Len "boogsie" Sharp
Mariella's Dance - Ray Holman
Perfectly Frank - Dan Levitan
Concerto for Darabukka and and Percussion Ensemble - Anthony Di Sanza (featuring Anthony DiSanza, darabukka)
December 7, 2008 | "New York Minutes" | McIntosh Theater
Dark Full Ride - Julia Wolfe
Water Percussion Quartet - Tan Dun
Percussion Quartet - Lori Dobbins
Suite on Concert for Flute and four percussionists - Andre Jolivet (featuring Edda Liss Feyjoo, flute)
The Sharpened Stick - Brett Dietz
Music for Pieces of Wood - Steve Reich
Sextet - Steve Reich
March 29, 2008 | World Percussion Ensemble
Samba Reggae - Traditional Brazilian (Arr. Neil Sisauyhoat)
Coba Glen Velez
Piru Bole John Bergamo
Tel Halaf Glen Velez
Yumbambe Joseph Estevez, Jr. and Alejandro Gonzalo (Arr. Ron Brough)
Los Jardineros de Ann Arbor: Catumba y Comparsa Roberto Vizcaino Guillot/Amado Garica Dedeu (Arr. Neeraj Mehta) featuring Ingrid Racine, trumpet
