Taiwan's ever-popular timpani ensemble, Ju Percussion (朱宗慶打擊樂團), will be stepping out on its 2002 winter tour this weekend, when the ensemble brings its latest drum and vibraphone-loaded creation, Stained Glass (彩繪玻璃) to the capital's National Concert Hall (國家音樂廳) in the first of a series of nationwide performances.
Since its founding in 1986, the 12-piece ensemble has become a household name not only in Taiwan but also on the international scene, having held numerous performances throughout the US and Europe. While performing upwards of 100 concerts annually in Taiwan, the combo's repertoire of hard banging members is always surprisingly fresh. Be it jazz-laden vibes, re-workings of classical Chinese tunes, folk songs or children's music, Ju Percussion's creativity never ceases to delight its audiences.
For this year's Winter Concert series, the percussionists have selected a program that is, according to a spokesperson for the ensemble, both interesting and stylish. Along with David Gillingham's piece, Stained Glass, the ensemble will be banging its way through arrangements which include popular timpani tunes such as Brian Mason's Children of Sanchez, Michael Burritt's Doomsday Machine and Srdan Dedic's At the Party. The highlights of the season, however, are the world premieres of Taiwan composer Hung Chung-Kun's (洪崇焜) latest piece, Interaction (互動) and Three Movements for Two Marimbas (為雙木琴的三個樂章) by Hong Kong arranger Chung Yiu-Kwong (鍾耀光).
Ju Percussion will be banging nationwide from this coming Sunday at Taipei's National Concert Hall (國家音樂廳). From there the combo moves on to Taichung's Chunghsing Hall (中興堂) on Wednesday, Dec. 4, followed by the Hsinchu City Cultural Center (新竹市立演藝廳) on Friday, Dec. 13. The tour will conclude at the Tainan Arts Center (台南市立藝術中心演藝廳) on Wednesday, Dec. 18. All performances begin at 7:30pm and tickets for all shows cost between NT$300 and NT$800 and are available through Acer ticketing outlets nationwide, or direct from the venues.
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