Ensemble to perform melodic musical mix

By Barb Churchill Assignment Reporter Tonight, your ideas of what a per- «—- cussion ensemble can do wall be chal- lenged. We use all the The University of Nebraska- Lincoln Percussion Ensemble is hold- percussion across U.S. the•' ing its spring concert this evening. f '***.* V ^ UNL Percussion Ensemble conductor instruments we authors contacted me about creating a invited women in Lincoln to jom m on John DeStefano, assistant band direc- By Sarah Baker public event surrounding this idea, the offerings. tor and percussion instructor, believes have.” Senior Reporter and I was delighted with it,” Nicolino Anyone who is interested in the audience will enjoy this concert said. donating should send their bras to: “People think (percussion ensem- John DeStefano Take off your bra and send it to the Nicolino said the book advances The National Bra Tapestry, 4298 bles) are all loud, dynamic rhythmic percussion instructor president the theory of a negative impact from Vineland Avenue, Studio City, Calif., it’s for a good cause. music. And, yes, we do play that, but Hey, wearing constricting clothing, partic- 91602. The National Bra Tapestry, a 40- we also have the ability to be quiet A ularly bras. He also said the book al African music that the audience foot wide by 100-foot tall tapestry percussion ensemble by itself can cre- shows results from a study stating that should DeStefano said. made of bras that creates an of ate melodies and harmonies,” enjoy,” image in non-bra-wearing countries, the rate In addition to “Ghana Dance the Statue of is one man's DeStefano said. Liberty, way of breast cancer patients with the dis- Music,” tiie UNL Percussion Ensemble of attempting to advance breast can- “It’s not your typical ensemble, ease in their family history were 1 is F. Michael Combs’ cer research. because there are no brass or wood- playing in 168, whereas in Nebraska,, Pat “Letters Nicolino, the conceptual artist and winds,” DeStefano said. “But we can “Antiphon,” Methany’s the rate is 1 in 8. From Home” art director for the project, said he this be as as else.” (arranged by “Even though pretty anyone to bras for the The UNL Percussion Ensemble DeStefano), Julie Johnsonis “Vision of hopes gather 40,000 research has been done, it Tom Steven project. is uses every known percussion instru- Mars,” Gaugeris “Portico,” being virtually “The bras are symbolic,” Nicolino ment caiH irw-luHirirr tirm_ Paxton’s “Chorale” and Chick Corea’s ignored,” he said. “So said. “They are a political request by pani, all forms of drums, “Central Park” (arranged by Jeff we’re going to the presi- xylophone, women all across the country to get marimba, bells, chimes, Hunter). dent” vibraphone, Clinton to do more breast cancer pre- Nicolino said he has piano, harmonium, celeste, electronic This program encompasses many vention research.” worked on a similar percussion and other instruments different types of music, including a pro- many The tapestry is slated to travel before. too numerous to list. Instruments as jazz ballad (“Letters from Home”), a ject throughout the United States and end “In 19941 did a project a slow melodic work (“Chorale”), a disparate as police whistle and a in where it will Grand world of and up Washington, D.C., called ‘Bras Across the marching machine may be used as per- premiere (“Vision Mars”) Av then be presented to President Clinton Canyon,’which dealt / cussion instruments. an up-tempo jazz-funk piece featuring in the hopes to advance breast cancer with social and political “The should be a full rhythm section of piano, bass and stage completely commentary,” full, because we use all the drum set in addition to the more percussion Nicolino said the basic design of Nicolino said. “It was a instruments we instrumentation. have,” DeStefano said. expected the tapestry will consist of an outline and artistic The UNL Percussion Ensemble is The is personal up-tempo jazz-funk piece of the Statue of Liberty, made out of around made of 17 different musicians. “Central Park.” eXpre&m&i up colored bras, and the rest of the pic- breast obsession in Sixteen of them are music “The great thing about ‘Central majors, ture will be filled in with the remain- Western cultures.” DeStefano but the 17th individual Park’ is that you get the chance to hear said, ing white bras. The torch is a special Although the main concept is unusual. the ensemble the quite percussion against attraction. of the tapestry is a political That’s because Wilson the and it’s a nice Akortia, rhythm section, very “We are hoping to collect ‘celebri- statement, Nicolino said he 17th is a DeStefano said. member, foreign exchange effect,” ty bras’ to make up the torch on the thought the artistic aspect of the student from Ghana. African music is The is eclectic, DeStefano program tapestry,” Nicolino said. “So far we project was equally important known to be but he did have a in mind. quite percussive and said, goal don’t have any, but we plan to contact “I view this project as some- “I’ve tried to newer that rhythmic, with extensive usage of dif- pick pieces Madonna, Sharon Stone and Dolly thing pretty unique,” he said. ferent types of drums, mallets and not only have good educational value, Parton” “Thousands of people can participate other percussion instruments. but also are fim to play for our students Nicolino said he is working with in one single artistic adventure. The DeStefano is proud to feature and fun to listen to by our audience,” R. Singer and Soma Grismaijer, idea of getting many people involved Akortia as lead drummer DeStefano said. in “Ghana authors of “Dressed to Kill: The Link is really exciting to me.” _ Dance Music,” written and arranged by The UNL Percussion Ensemble Between Breast Cancer and Bras” on Nicolino said the tapestry will H ^ Akortia. concert is tonight at 7 in Kimball the project. travel to cities where more than ‘“Ghana Dance Music’ is tradition- Recital Hall. Admission is free. *‘I first got involved when the 1,000 bras are donated, and he Polka to invade the Zoo Bar Megadeth alive, well “I would like for people to have a By Jason Hardy more open mind when they come to Senior Reporter music,” Finch said. “A lot of those old in Lincoln things that our parents listen to, if you tonight nals. __£ Polka is where it’s at take the squareness out of it, you can From Or at least that’s what the Denton, “We just keep trying to play new see that there’s some value there and Staff Reports so we don’t Finch Texas, band Brave Combo wants you to things get bored,” some merit” think, said What goes around comes around, Megadeth just refuses to They’ve been playing various styles The songs the band plays range in because Finch said a lot of older Czech die, despite the hopes of heavy 1994’s “Youthanasia” at three on of polkas, waltzes, mambos, two-steps style from traditional Greek music and musicians like Brave Combo Is music, metal naysayers. topped number and rock ’n' roll for the 19 1950s crooner-type songs to genres that just as Finch has always liked theirs. “The Billboard 200,” the past years. Formed in 1983, the often- But the craziness is just beginning. defy spelling. “They almost always dig it,” Finch industry album charts based on Finch the of derided but hugely successful number of sales. Tbesday Brave Combe released yet said unhipness what said. “We regularly play all the big heavy metal group has watched another new album their 19* U.S. Brave Combo is doing is part of what Czech festivals in Texas.” come Headed by ex-Metallica makes music fads and go. release “Polka Party With Brave them hip. Lincoln is always a great place to member Dave Mustaine, Combo: Live and Wild,” aid on April “We don’t seek out any sort of cur- play, Finch said. The band usually Tonight, Megadeth brings Megadeth has received criti- i_a _1 _ .a +*** iuv uauu win rent Finch said “We don’t want comes here about three times a piajr at 1 iiv trends,” year, its 15-year tradition of heavy cism as being heavily deriva- to stuff that and he said it is fun. Simpsons” 200* episode party in Los spoon-feed people they’re always rock and long hair to the tive of their heavy-metal prog- Angeles. Matt Greening, “Simpsons” already getting” “It’s one of our favorite places. We Pershing Auditorium, 226 enitor. creator, is a longtime Brave Combo fan Janet Froschheiser, manager of have a lot of friends there,” Finch said. Centennial Mall South. These accusations are and invited them to play the star-stud- Homers, 2711 S. 48m St., said Brave “It feels like home to be there, and I Originally slated for The countered claims of authen- ded event Combo helped to make polka and other really mean that” by Royal Grove, the show had to ticity and steadfastness in a Even with all that on, Lincoln types of music appealing to younger Froschheiser said Brave Combo going be rescheduled to the larger lucked out, because Brave shows in the past have been great fun. continually fluxing industry. tonight generations. venue because of the demand Combo will the Zoo Bar’s “I one of their albums for “I think it’s because a This has been light up stage got my they’re really for tickets. persistence with an arsenal of wacky music that brother-in-law, who is 19 now. He was fun party band,” she said. “Itfc uplifting rewarded with invitations to even frontman Carl Finch has trouble 16 when he got it, and he just loved it,” music, and everybody can dance to it” This was no surprise for Howard Stern’s recent birthday describing. Froschheiser said. “A lot of people who As for the future of Brave Combo, most fans, who are well aware party, where the band played “If you just sort of heard us in a put down polka haven’t really listened Finch said, anything is possible. of the group’s rock-solid fol- with David Bowie, and a recent quick moment you’d think ’rock band to it” “Ifyoucangetarock ’n’ roll crowd lowing. Megadeth’s newest deal to work with Puff Daddy playing weird music,”’ Finch said. Finch said people often are too to admit they like polka, you can do album, “Cryptic Writings” is on a new single. He said the was influenced when listen to music, expected to soon join the group judgmental they anything.” Tonight’s show begins at 7. different musical and and he Brave Combo will make concert starts at 9 at the band’s three other by many styles hopes Tonight’s platinum, Tickets are $20. that they have more than 600 songs they people a little more receptive to things Zoo Bar, 136 N. 14th St. The cover records. can play, 60 to 70 of which are origi- that traditionally seem nerdy. charge is $9.