Sō Percussion Tickets

For the price we paid for these tickets, I was extremely disappointed. There were no programs. The percussionists were fine - but they did not use traditional percussion instruments. Their website had shown them playing marimbas or xylophones and other percussion instruments. So, I was hoping for at least one selection on the program of several marimbas or xylophones. Instead, they played water glasses, clay pots, and one interesting one - using mallets on the piano strings. They played well, it was just disappointing - more like what I did with my kids when they were growing up. I admit, carting around 4 marimbas is a pain, but it would have made a really great program. The musicians had either received degrees or taken classes from Yale, and currently are the percussionists in residence at Princeton. Their technique looked fine. I was just disappointed with the program content. Had I known, I would not have spent so much on the tickets and stayed home. Having no programs made it seem amateurish. Even if they didn't want to be locked into the particular pieces, they could have mentioned the program would be announced - however it should have had the bios of the percussionists.

So Percussion's 2/9/2014 performance was a real treat in a town that rarely showcases challenging music. The International Composers Festival, the Mizzou New Music Ensemble are great as well, but we just don't get enough of this sort of thing. I really appreciated So Percussion's performance of the Glenn Kottche peice.