manos percussion Program Notes
Maria Vomlehn Flurry • Joshua Ferrell • Bensen Kwan
Special Guests: Peter Ferry and Banda Latino Caribeña
January 12, 2025
Ruth Street Theater on the Prescott High School campus
Introduction
Percussion ensembles have captivated audiences since their emergence in the early 20th century, when composers began exploring the vast array of sounds and textures unique to percussion instruments. Initially experimental, these ensembles evolved into a celebrated and versatile medium, blending rhythm and melody with an innovative spirit. Today’s manos percussion concert embraces this rich tradition while pushing the boundaries of creativity and collaboration.
Featuring Arizona Philharmonic’s principal timpanist Maria Flurry alongside award-winning percussionists Joshua Ferrell and Bensen Kwan, manos percussion promises an eclectic program that spans genres and continents. Joining them is Peter Ferry, an acclaimed percussion soloist and educator, who will facilitate Elliot Cole’s engaging Flowerpot Music alongside Prescott High School students. From the elegant precision of Bach and Scarlatti to the atmospheric soundscapes of Tan Dun and Cole, this performance highlights the incredible range of musical possibilities percussion offers. With contributions from Banda Latino Caribeña and vibrant, dance-worthy rhythms, manos delivers a dynamic, interactive experience that is as intellectually engaging as it is joyfully entertaining.
Prelude in C Minor BWV 847
J.S. Bach / Arr. Maria V. Flurry
If J.S. Bach described his Well-Tempered Clavier as written “for the profit and use of musical youth desirous of learning, and especially for the pastime of those already skilled in this study,” it’s fitting that his works find new life in percussion’s diverse palette of sounds. The arrangement for marimba and vibraphone amplifies the piece’s meditative depth while injecting rhythmic vitality. Its journey begins with a restrained, grinding tension and evolves into grooves that inspire connection and joy.
Danse Macabre
Camille Saint-Saens / Arr. Luca Staffelbach
The timeless theme of death in art—explored from medieval times to modern music—is brought to life in Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre. This symphonic poem combines humor and eeriness, painting a vivid picture of the Dance of Death. The marimba and vibraphone in this arrangement lend shimmering textures that underscore the haunting, rhythmic energy of the piece.
Nereidas
Amador Perez Dimas / Arr. Bensen Kwan
This iconic danzón, a 19th-century Cuban dance form embraced in Mexico, draws its name from a club for which it was composed. With its bubbling melody, it evokes the mythical Nereids, sea nymphs of Greek mythology. For decades, Nereidas has delighted audiences in Oaxaca and beyond, with its heartfelt and buoyant rhythms.
Henry Flurry
I Hold My Peace is an arrangement of a movement from Henry Flurry’s choral and percussion work, Fragments. Originally commissioned by Dennis Houser for the Yavapai College Master Chorale, Fragments is based on excerpts from the Dead Sea Scrolls, as translated by Géza Vermes. The title reflects the incomplete nature of the scrolls, with much of the remaining text existing only as fragments of the original manuscripts. The movement was revised last season to include strings and was performed by the Prescott Chorale.
The movement I Hold My Peace, inspired by a Thanksgiving Hymn, expresses humility and serenity through its text:
I hold my peace;
what more shall I say than this?
I have spoken in accordance with my knowledge,
out of the righteousness given to a creature of clay.
In this arrangement, the gentleness of the bowed vibraphone highlights the humility and serenity of the ancient author, offering a tranquil and meditative interpretation of the hymn.
Scarlatti Sonata K96
Domenico Scarlatti / Arr. Maria V. Flurry
Domenico Scarlatti, a master of Baroque keyboard music, spent much of his life working in the Spanish and Portuguese royal courts. His 555 keyboard sonatas often incorporate elements of Iberian folk music, including the harmonies and rhythms of flamenco. This arrangement brings out those distinctive qualities, showcasing Scarlatti’s inventive spirit through the shimmering tones of the marimba and vibraphone.
Water Trio
Tan Dun / Arr. Maria V. Flurry
Tan Dun’s fascination with water as a musical medium began with his iconic Water Concerto. By employing techniques such as tapping, bowing, and striking water instruments, he creates an immersive auditory and visual experience. This arrangement captures the essence of his exploration, inviting listeners to imagine their own connections with water’s beauty and power.
Synesthesia Suite: Aka (Red)
Andy Akiho
This dynamic piece by Andy Akiho reflects his unique perspective as a composer with synesthesia, where sounds evoke vivid colors. In Aka (“Red”), the composer’s experience of color becomes a driving force in shaping its rhythmic and melodic landscape. Akiho’s passion for the steelpan is also evident, blending its resonant tones with bold, innovative textures
Pinchos
Traditional Basque Music / Arr. Bensen Kwan
The Basque region’s rich musical heritage is shaped by its geographic isolation and diverse influences from European and Arabic traditions. This arrangement blends traditional txistu melodies with the vibrant rhythms of the tambourine (pandereta), creating a captivating homage to Basque culture.
Open Window
Liam Teague and Robert Chappell
This duet for marimba and tenor pan (steelpan), accompanied by cajón, merges elements of jazz, classical, and Caribbean music. The interplay between the instruments evokes a sense of openness and possibility, making it a standout work in contemporary percussion repertoire.
Arabesque No. 2
Claude Debussy / Arr. Luca Staffelbach
Composed during his early career, Debussy’s Deux Arabesques exemplify his emerging impressionistic style. The Second Arabesque, lively and flowing, is brought to life in this arrangement for percussion, where intertwined melodies and rich harmonies evoke a sense of elegance and movement.
Reflejo en Rumba
Traditional / Arr. Josh Ferrell
This arrangement explores the vibrant rhythms of Afro-Cuban rumba, incorporating elements of guaguancó, Columbia, and yambú. These rhythms, steeped in urban Cuban traditions, capture the dynamic interplay of percussion and dance.
Photo credit: FX-1988 of DeviantArt
It Was a Café Moment
Josh Ferrell, Bensen Kwan, Maria V. Flurry
This original composition is a playful exploration of the creative possibilities in everyday objects. Born out of collaboration between the performers, it incorporates dramatic on-stage interactions and inventive use of nontraditional instruments, including water bottles.
Flowerpot Music
Elliot Cole
This participatory piece invites musicians and audiences alike to engage with everyday objects as instruments. Facilitated by Peter Ferry, the work features Prescott High School students performing alongside manos percussion, creating an atmospheric soundscape entirely on flowerpots.
DNA
Mical Teja and Tano
A lively soca piece from Trinidad and Tobago, DNA epitomizes the upbeat, syncopated energy of the genre. This arrangement celebrates the vibrant rhythms that animate Carnival and captures the joy and community spirit of this cultural tradition.
PROGRAM
Prelude in C Minor BWV 847
J.S. Bach / Arr. Maria V. Flurry
Danse Macabre
Camille Saint-Saens / Arr. Luca Staffelbach
Nereidas
Amador Perez Dimas / Arr. Bensen Kwan
with Banda Latino Caribeña
I Hold My Peace
Henry Flurry
Scarlatti Sonata K96
Domenico Scarlatti / Arr. Maria V. Flurry
Water Trio
Tan Dun
Synesthesia Suite: Aka (Red)
Andy Akiho
Intermission
Pinchos
Traditional Basque Music/Arr. Bensen Kwan
Open Window
Liam Teague and Robert Chappell
Arabesque No. 2
Claude Debussy/Arr. Luca Staffelbach
Reflejo de rumba
Traditional/Arr. Josh Ferrell
with Banda Latino Caribeña
It Was a Café Moment
Josh Ferrell, Bensen Kwan, Maria V. Flurry
with Banda Latino Caribeña
Flowerpot Music
Elliot Cole
facilitated by Peter Ferry, commissioning artist for this work
with Prescott High School Instrumental Students
DNA
Mical Teja and Tano
with Banda Latino Caribeña
manos percussion would like to express their deep felt gratitude for Katie Staudt, for her essential role in organization and action that made this performance a reality.
Performers
manos percussion
Maria Vomlehn Flurry • Joshua Ferrell • Bensen Kwan
Distinguished Guest:
Peter Ferry
Special Guests:
Banda Latino Caribeña de Flagstaff
Abraham Arteaga • William Burns • Francisco Hernandez
Prescott High School Instrumental Students
Click tabs below for details.
Maria Vomlehn Flurry is an accomplished percussionist and principal timpanist with Arizona Philharmonic and Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. She has performed with the Detroit, Baltimore, Phoenix, Toledo, and Annapolis Orchestras; with orchestras across southeast Michigan; and as guest timpanist with Michigan Opera Theater, Mannheim Steamroller, and Phoenix Symphony. As a concerto soloist, she has appeared with the Spokane Symphony, Flint Symphony, Tucson Chamber Orchestra, Flagstaff Symphony, Arizona Philharmonic, MusicNova, University City Symphony (Missouri), San Tan Orchestra, Prescott Symphony, and Prescott Chamber Orchestra.
Tan Dun’s website lists her Spokane performance of his Water Concerto for Water Percussion and Orchestra as a significant performance. She gained national attention as a founding member of Harpbeat, a percussion and harp duo that toured extensively and released three critically acclaimed recordings.
Her education includes Interlochen Arts Academy, Peabody Conservatory, University of Michigan, Aspen Music Festival, National Repertory Orchestra, and National Orchestral Institute. Maria performs with her husband as Sticks and Tones and is an artist endorser for Black Swamp Percussion.
Joshua Ferrell is a versatile percussionist and educator. He performs with jazz pianist Aakash Sridhar, teaches masterclasses for underserved campuses, and tours nationally. A recent University of North Texas (UNT) Master’s graduate, he directed the Five and Seven O’Clock Lab Bands and played with the Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band, the Two O’Clock Lab Band, and the U-Tubes trombone ensemble. His performances include the Idyllwild Arts Summer Orchestra, Hot Springs Summer Chamber Orchestra, the Texas State Fair, and the Jazz Education Network Conference. He has recorded with Sam Houston State University’s Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble.
Bensen Kwan is a percussionist and music educator who recently received his Master’s in music performance at the University of Delaware. Through his musical journey, he has performed and studied internationally in Germany, Greece, Trinidad & Tobago, and Japan. Notable performances are with the Leipzig Philharmonic Orchestra, Junge Norddeutsche Philharmonie, Supernovas Steel Orchestra, and study with marimba virtuoso, Keiko Abe.
Peter Ferry is an acclaimed American percussionist known for his virtuosic expressivity and audience-centered performances. Described as “an artist of vision… presenting percussion in a stunning thoughtful way” (Democrat and Chronicle), he collaborates with leading composers like Meredith Monk and John Luther Adams. His performance projects have taken him to major venues worldwide including Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center. Ferry also explores innovative multimedia work with artists like Manual Cinema, their work called “endlessly imaginative” (The New Yorker). As a member and Assistant Director of Artistic Planning with Alarm Will Sound, he leads and develops the ensemble’s ambitious projects. Ferry proudly endorses Marimba One, Vic Firth/Balter Mallets, and Zildjian.
Banda Latino Caribeña de Flagstaff is a vibrant Latin music ensemble founded in 2022 by percussionist Abraham Arteaga. The band brings the energy and rhythms of Latin America and the Caribbean to life, performing at a variety of events across Northern Arizona. Their repertoire spans jazz, Basque, calypso, and traditional Latin styles, offering a rich blend of global influences.