School of Music, Department of Dance collaborate on performance

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University's Advanced Jazz Ensemble, led by Dr. Andrew Rathbun, and artists from the Department of Dance, led by Professor Kirsten Harvey, will premier a work called "Metrics" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, in the Dalton Center Recital Hall.

The performance will be preceded by a 7 p.m. discussion hosted by Dr. Robert White. Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 for seniors and $5 for students, and are available from Miller Auditorium at millerauditorium.com/som or by calling (269) 387-2300 or (800) 228-9858.

"Metrics" is a five-movement suite composed for a ten-piece ensemble. The idea behind the suite is derived from a variety of impressions of the meaning of the word metrics. In jazz and improvised music, there is a trend towards experimentation with shifting meters and odd time signatures, and this work makes widespread use of these devices. Metrics also refers to measurement and the study of meter in poetry. The piece attempts to realize these ideals by formulating both poetic melodic statements and various forms that evolve in a measured way..

Bullock Music Performance Institute

Established in the fall of 1985 and renamed in 1988 in honor of its founder, the institute's mission is to add to the already rich cultural life of Kalamazoo by creating opportunities to develop closer personal and artistic ties between audience and performer. The institute has presented events ranging from formal evening concerts to daytime educational outreach events for students and local audiences of all ages.

For more information about the Wednesday evening concert series, call (269) 387-4704 or (269) 387-4678, or visit wmich.edu/music.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.