CD 800-- 75

@] UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO 2011-12 SEASON Ey, FACULTY or MUSIC

Thursday, September 22, 2011 12:10 pm. Walter Hall

THURSDAYS AT NOON

Michelle Colton, percussion

PROGRAM

Roland Dyens Tango en Skai (1978) Eric Ewazen Concerto for Marimba (1999) I. Andante II. Andante Cantabile II. Allegro con Fuoco Wesley Shen, piano Tim Ferchen A Farewell to Those Left Behind (2009) - Canadian premiere Traditional African Gahu (Traditional) Norvi Cultural Group HHH

Next on Thursdays at Noon

September 29

Mozart’s Serenade for 13 wind instruments, “Gran Partita”

Clare Scholtz, oboe, Richard Dorsey, oboe, Max Christie, clarinet, Peter Stoll, clarinet, David Bourque, basset horn, Stephen Pierre, basset horn, Christopher Gongos, horn, Harcus Hennigar, horn, Scott Wevers, horn, Tina Shapero, horn, Fraser Jackson, bassoon, Gerald Robinson, bassoon, Edward Tait, double bass, David Briskin, conductor

www.music.utoronto.ca

NOTES

TANGO EN SKAI began as an improvised work in 1978. Solo guitarist, Roland Dyens, played the piece for many years without revealing that he was the composer. It was not until 1985 that Dyens was finally convinced to publish the work. In his program notes, Dyens asks that the performers try to create a party atmosphere in which it was born without being unduly serious or overly compassionate, and to keep a smile deep inside. He believes the tango is a sensual dance whose rhythm must be constant from the opening to the final chord.

Roland Dyens was born in Tunisia in 1955, and is currently teaching at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique de Paris. He is a well-known guitarist and composer, notorious for his extraordinary improvisation skills. His guitar music uses ele- ments of folk and jazz, and has become popular with guitarists around the world.

CONCERTO FOR MARIMBA was written for She-e Wu in 1999. There are several published accompaniments scored by Eric Ewazen and other composers. The work consists of three constrasting movements, Andante, Andante Cantabile, and Allegro con Fuoco. Many have described it as “The Great American Marimba Concerto”.

Eric Ewazen was born in 1954 in Cleveland, Ohio. He received his B.M. at the Eastman School of Music and his M.M. and D.M.A. degrees from the Juilliard School, where he now serves on faculty. His teachers included Milton Babbitt, Samuel Adler, Warren Benson, Joseph Schwantner, and Gunther Schuller. He received numerous composition awards and prizes and has had his works commissioned and performed by many soloists, chamber ensembles and orchestras throughout the world.

A FAREWELL TO THOSE LEFT BEHIND was composed in 2009 for Russell Hartenberger. “In August of 2005 a hurricane by the name of Katrina hit the southern coast of the United States. It left in its wake thousands of people dead, and many more without homes. In New Orleans, where 80% of the city was flooded, many of the poor and elderly unable to escape or be rescued were never saved. This piece is dedicated to them.” -Tim Ferchen

Tim Ferchen is a classical percussionist who was born in 1947, in the United States. He studied music with the lead of William Street, John Beck and Jack Moore. In 1972, he joined Steve Reich And Musicians. In 1974, he moved to Finland, and has been a member of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra since 1977. In 1984, he founded The Breath Ensemble. He is currently in Ra- dion Sinfoniaorkesteri and Steve Reich And Musicians.

GAHLU includes drumming, dancing, and singing. It isa popular recreational and secular dance among the Ewe people of Ghana. Gahu originated from Nigeria, where it was called “Kokosawa”. The Ewe people from the southeastern part of Ghana polished it and renamed it Gahu, which means “expensive dance” or “money dance” because of the nature of the expensive Nigerian costumes used in the piece. Gahu is often performed to celebrate weddings, naming ceremonies, community festivals, and multiple other events. The lead drum (Boba) uses specific drum calls to communicate with and guide the performers of Gahu. Each part of the dance choreography is directly related to the rhythms played by the lead drummer.

BIOGRAPHY

MICHELLE COLTON is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at University of Toronto, where she recently graduated with her Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance in 2009. Michelle earned her Bachelor of Music Education/ Performance degree from University of Iowa in 2006. She performed with the University of lowa Percussion Ensemble in Beijing, China in 2006, and also in the Keiko Abe Toho Gakuen Marimba Masterclass in Tokyo, Japan in 2008. Michelle has studied music from Japan, India, Indonesia, Ghana, China, Iran, Cuba, Brazil, and Trinidad. She currently teaches steel pan and percussion ensemble at University of Toronto, as well as drumline, drum circle, bucket drumming, and private lessons in the community. She received Ist place in the 2009 University of Toronto Concerto Competition, and also in the 2011 University of Toronto DMA Recital Competition. She plays extra percussion with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and has had the pleasure of sharing the stage

with NEXUS, Dame Evelyn Glennie, IImas Hussain Khan, I Wayan Sinti, Kiyoshi Nagata, Jiao Shanlin, Kwasi Dunyo, and Soley Vesighi. Michelle's goals are to continue to study, perform, and teach music.

SPECIAL THANKS This concert is dedicated to the Dunyo family. Thank you to Russell Hartenberger, Beverley Johnston, John Rudolph, Kwasi Dunyo, and Kwabla Dunyo for their guidance. Thank you to Kwabla Dunyo for his continued encouragement and support.

Thank you to my friends and family for all they do.