Sherry Rubins , Professor of Practice at UTSA, will handle the percussion solo on “Primitive Echoes,” to be performed by Symphony of the Hills on Thursday, April 28, 2022, at 7:30 p.m. at the Cailloux Theater.
April 17, 2022–With a father who was a band teacher and big band drummer, Sherry Rubins was “born hearing drums.”
“I sort of came by it naturally,” said Rubins, who will perform the tympani solo at the Symphony of the Hills “Primitive Echoes” concert on April 28. “So I started playing drums when I was five, and I don’t think I thought of doing anything else.”
Today Rubins is coordinator of the percussion program at the University of Texas at San Antonio and Principal Timpanist with the Mid-Texas Symphony. She also presents clinics and performances, and is an artist and educational clinician for Zildjian Cymbals, Remo Percussion, the Yamaha Corporation, and the Vic Firth Company.
While the piece “Primitive Echoes” is a showcase for the percussion section, it holds more personal meaning for her, as the composer is Alice Gomez, a contemporary and friend in the world of classical music.
“Of course it’s very rhythmic,” Rubins said of the piece. “It has a Native American feel to it. There’s a moment in this concerto where I have ankle bells, but I’m going to be shaking them. And then some other shakers that I’m actually going to strike the drums with.”
While some may perceive the kettle drum as atonal, they actually have a tunable melodic range. Rubins will be using four of them.
“Absolutely, there is lots of melody,” she said. “Alice has quite a few pitch changes that she’s written, so it’s very melodic, along with obviously rhythmic. So you’ll hear the sort of modal sound of Native American music, only through the drumset.”
Rubins is looking forward to this concert for several reasons.
“I’m looking forward to seeing people that I know, and we’re all excited about playing live music for a live audience.”
The complete musical program:
- Jean Sibelius – Finlandia, Op. 26
- Ungar/Custer – “Ashokan Farewell” from The Civil War
- -Phil Johnson, violin soloist
- Alice Gomez – “Primitive Echoes” Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra
- -Sherry Rubins, timpani soloist
- Gustav Holst – “Mars, The Bringer of War” from The Planets
- Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 2 “Ukrainian”
Seats can be reserved online at caillouxperformingarts.com or by calling or visiting the Cailloux Theater Box Office, (830) 896-9393. Box Office window hours are 10am to 1pm Monday through Friday, 10am to 3pm Saturday. Tickets start at $25.
Prior to the concert, the board will announce the new 2022-2023 Concert Season in the lobby. Patron and Subscriber Reservations will be taken from 6:00-7:30pm.
A full description of this concert and ticket links are available at www.symphonyofthehills.org.
