Oregon Center for the Arts at Southern Oregon University presents the SOU Graduate Percussion Group performing “Timber”

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(Ashland, Ore.) – The Music program of the Oregon Center for the Arts at Southern Oregon University presents the SOU Graduate Percussion Group performing Michael Gordon’s minimalist masterpiece “Timber” on Tuesday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the SOU Music Recital Hall. Admission is free.
Dr. Terry Longshore, director of percussion studies at SOU describes “Timber” as a “meditation on sound and rhythm, bringing the physicality, endurance and technique of percussion performance to a new level.” Since its composition in 2009, Gordon’s minimalist masterpiece has been heralded as a masterwork of polyrhythmic juxtaposition, and a celebration of the essence of percussion.
“Each player is called upon to perform polyrhythms ranging from a simple 3:2 to an extremely challenging 6:5 or 7:4.,” said Longshore. “Simple in its conception, it is exceedingly difficult to perform for each percussionist. Combining multiple percussionists together adds another layer of virtuosity. The swirling textures created by the overlapping crescendos and decrescendos create an atmosphere that must be experienced to be believed.” The hour-long piece is performed without a break, at once meditative and captivating.
The SOU Graduate Percussion Group is composed of Jordan Curcuruto, Joseph Howe, Jeffrey Kolega, Colin Malloy and Tyler Willoughby, who are working toward their Master of Music in Performance degree.
Longshore is a percussionist whose genre-crossing work involves multi-media artists, live music for dance and theatre, and experimental musical notation. In addition to directing and performing with the SOU Percussion Ensembles, he performs with flute and percussion duo Caballito Negro and flamenco ensemble Dúo Flamenco. Longshore has performed at the Bang on a Can Festival in New York City, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Green Umbrella Series, the Cabrillo Music Festival, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Festival of New American Music, the Britt Festivals, the Cycle of Percussion at the National Center of the Arts in Mexico City, and has been featured six times at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). He is a Yamaha Performing Artist and an artist endorser for Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, and Remo Drumheads. He earned his doctoral degree in Contemporary Music Performance from the University of California, San Diego.
About Southern Oregon University
Southern Oregon University provides outstanding student experiences, valued degrees, and successful graduates. SOU is known for excellence in faculty, intellectual creativity and rigor, quality and innovation in connected learning programs, and the educational benefits of its unique geographic location. SOU was the first university in Oregon—and one of the first in the nation—to offset 100 percent of its energy use with clean, renewable power, and it is the first university in the nation to balance 100 percent of its water consumption. Visit sou.edu.
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