After returning from sabbatical Roger Braun is once again taking the helm of Ohio University’s Percussion Ensemble.
Braun, professor and director of percussion studies at Ohio University had been on sabbatical fall semester working on his compositions, while Joseph Van Hassel, now a professor of percussion at OU and former student filled in.
The recital will feature Braun’s compositions played by the percussion ensemble. The event will also be the premiere of four new pieces.
Braun said his work ranges from percussion chamber music, to jazz-flavored, groove-based works, to music inspired by what he calls the two “JB’s” John Beck, his percussion teacher, and James Brown, the popular funk musician.
“It has been great to return,” Braun said. “When you are composing something, you’re trying to do your best and think about what needs to be there, and it is thrilling to see it come to shape.”
Seth Alexander, a freshmen studying percussion performance, said he was glad to be working and learning under Braun, whom he cited as one of the main reasons for his coming to study music at OU.
“He is so versatile, and ready for anything,” Alexander said. “He can play just about anything and that really interests me.
Turner Matthews, a junior studying music composition, said the recital is a time for audience members to be exposed to the different styles, like jazz or African music.
“Enjoy the music, and see what these different compositions have to offer,” Matthews said. “I think he tries to focus on different aspects of music, he thinks about parts of groove or texture in his music.”
Braun said while he works on compositions, texture and groove are a large part of his work, as well as other musical elements such as how the piece actually looks to an audience.
“When I write a piece, I think about the physical set-up is going to look like, what kind of instruments will be used,” Braun said. “ I wanted to write music that I think anyone can connect with, there is an immediacy about it … I hope that everyone connects with it on some level.”
If You Go
What: Ohio University Percussion Ensemble
Where: Glidden Recital Hall
When: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
Admission: Free
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