DePauw Percussion Ensemble Explores 'The Drums of War' Thursday Night

November 13, 2012

The DePauw Percussion Ensemble, directed by Amy Lynn Barber, explores percussion in the service and depiction of war in a dramatic program in Kresge Auditorium on Thursday, November 15.  The program, “The Drums of War,” will feature traditional military drumming, guest artist Joseph Ketterman playing the Great Highland Bagpipes, the DePauw Trumpet Ensemble and DePauw Flute Choir, as well as works by Christopher Rouse, Michael Burritt, James Campbell, David Gillingham, and Samuel Barber.

The music begins at 7:30 p.m. in the venue, which is located within DePauw University's Green Center for the Performing Arts. Many different kinds of drumming will be represented on the concert.

“Most of our percussion instruments and the traditions of playing them come from two historical sources: music for dancing and for the military,” explains Amy Lynn Barber, professor of music at DePauw and the ensemble’s director. “This program focuses on the latter. In addition to demonstrating some of the military roots of percussion, in combination with trumpets, fifes, and bagpipes, we are playing contemporary works that are about war -- ranging from the Hawaiian god of war to the terra cotta warriors of China, from the D-Day invasion of World War II to Star Trek,” Barber notes.

The Percussion Ensemble is a very active chamber group that plays a wide range of musical styles including ragtime, jazz, world music, and the most contemporary classical works. Besides performing on campus, it has played at such venues as the Indiana Day of Percussion and the Rhythm Discovery Center in Indianapolis, and has traveled to central Europe, Brazil and, most recently, to China.

Guest piper Joseph Ketterman began playing the Great Highland Bagpipes in 2001 under the direction of pipe major Craig Waugh. Ketterman is the Quartermaster of the Indiana Caledonia Pipe Band. He also performs for the Indianapolis Scottish Society and the Scottish Rite Cathedral in Indianapolis.

General admission tickets to the Percussion Ensemble performance are $3. Children under 12, all students, and seniors over 65 are free. The box office at the Green Center, which is located at 605 S. College Avenue, is open Sunday-through-Friday between noon and 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m.. Tickets are also available online at www.depauw.edu/music/tickets. For additional information, call (765) 658-4827.

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