Percussion Plus Project marks 20th anniversary with Bartok

Amy Lynn Barber will lead The Percussion Plus Project in a performance of Bartok's "Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion" at 3 p.m. Sunday at the DePauw University Green Center for the Performing Arts.

On Sunday, March 17, The Percussion Plus Project will celebrate a milestone -- its 20th anniversary -- with a lecture-recital on one of the seminal chamber music works of the 20th century: "The Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion" by Béla Bartok.

The performance is set for 3 p.m. in Thompson Recital Hall of the DePauw Univer-sity Green Center for the Performing Arts Center.

"Composed in 1937, this work was the first of its genre, and it remains the model for composers writing for this unique instrumentation," said DePauw School of Music percussion professor Amy Lynn Barber, who directs The Percussion Plus Project.

"The Sonata explores the close relationship between the piano and percussion instruments," Barber added. "and successfully integrates and even blurs the distinction between them."

The concert will feature School of Music piano faculty member May Phang and guest piano artist Stephanie Weaver.

Heather Sloan and Barber will be the percussionists.

Each performer will offer insights into the history, musical importance, compositional and musical techniques of this remarkable and important piece.

The Percussion Plus Project, a professional resident ensemble within the DePauw School of Music, was founded in 1993 when Barber was living in Europe, where the group performed extensively.

When she came to DePauw in 2002, Barber reconstituted the group with percussionists from the area. The "Plus" in the name refers to the additional non-percussionist soloists.

General admission tickets to the Percussion Plus performance are $5-$7. Tickets for all students, children and seniors over 65 are free.

For additional information or assistance, call 658-4827 or visit www.depauw.edu/music/tickets.