\n
The Elon Department of Music continues its fall season with a celebration of rhythm, creativity and innovation. Two upcoming performances showcase the department\u2019s adventurous spirit \u2014 from the genre-bending percussion works led by Daniel Hartung to the imaginative twist on traditional jazz by Alex Heitlinger. Together, these concerts highlight Elon\u2019s commitment to pushing musical boundaries and reimagining what performance can be.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Yeager Recital Hall, audiences will experience the Elon Percussion Ensemble Fall Concert, directed by Daniel Hartung and Alex Richard. The concert features both traditional and \u201cfound object\u201d instruments \u2014 proving that rhythm and resonance can come from the most unexpected sources.<\/p>\n
Hartung describes his inspiration as rooted in the \u201cendless possibilities of sound exploration.\u201d By incorporating materials such as glass, wood, porcelain, metal, and rubber, the ensemble creates a palette of textures and tones that push the boundaries of what percussion can be. In an acoustically rich space like Yeager Recital Hall, these unconventional sounds take on new life, exposing and amplifying their natural beauty.<\/p>\n
Each piece in the program is chosen to serve a distinct purpose, shaping the concert\u2019s tone from \u201cloud and bombastic drumming\u201d to \u201cgentle marimba chorales.\u201d The performance draws on diverse musical traditions \u2014 including Afro-Cuban Orisha drumming, Western contemporary classical works, Northern European avant-garde performance art and even an arrangement of a B\u00e9la Fleck bluegrass classic.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy hope is that the audience will better understand the breadth and depth of what percussion is and what it has to offer,\u201d said Hartung.<\/p>\n
With students ranging from first-year performers to seasoned seniors, the ensemble showcases the creative range and curiosity that define Elon\u2019s music community.<\/p>\n
Just a few weeks later, audiences will have the chance to hear Elon\u2019s jazz program reimagine another musical angle. On Nov. 14, when two worlds collide \u2014 jazz music and video games \u2014 the result is a performance that transcends boundaries and generations. Throughout history, jazz has been rooted in expression: a reflection of struggle, hope,and transformation. But in Jazz Levels Up: A Night of Video Game Music, Alex Heitlinger, Elon\u2019s director of jazz studies and jazz ensembles, proves that jazz is not confined to tradition \u2014 it\u2019s an ever-evolving art form that adapts, reimagines and reinvents itself.\u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cThe idea actually came from the students in the jazz program,\u201d Heitlinger said. \u201cThey suggested a video game theme, and I thought it was perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over the past few years, video game music has become a growing trend in the jazz community, propelled by groups like the 8-Bit Big Band that fuse nostalgia with virtuosity. For Heitlinger, this blend offers the perfect opportunity to connect with younger audiences who grew up surrounded by the soundtracks of their favorite games.<\/p>\n
The concert will feature arrangements from Adam Neely\u2019s \u201cNintendo-fication of Jazz\u201d project \u2014 a collection of reimagined game themes that treat video game scores as modern-day standards, much like the classic American Songbook once did.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen [Neely] made a video about how video game music could be this generation\u2019s Tin Pan Alley songbook, that really clicked for me,\u201d Heitlinger said. \u201cOnce I heard it, I was surprised at the quality of songwriting!\u201d<\/p>\n
For Heitlinger and the student musicians, the performance is both challenging and rewarding. The professional-level arrangements demand precision, energy and creativity \u2014 hallmarks of great jazz. \u201c<\/p>\n
Jazz is always challenging,\u201d Heitlinger admitted, \u201cbut that\u2019s what keeps it exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ultimately,\u00a0 Jazz Levels Up aims to bring two worlds together \u2014 fans of jazz and fans of video games \u2014 and reveal the unexpected harmony between them. \u201cFor jazz lovers, I hope it shows that jazz is still evolving and connecting with new generations,\u201d Heitlinger said. \u201cAnd for video game fans, I hope they get to hear the music they love in a totally different context \u2014 swinging, improvising, alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
By infusing video game music with the liveliness, swing and improvisational spirit of jazz, the Elon Jazz Ensemble shows that great music never stops evolving \u2014 it just keeps leveling up.<\/p>\n
Together, the Elon Percussion Ensemble Fall Concert and Jazz Levels Up highlight Elon\u2019s forward-thinking approach to music making. Through the experimental textures of percussion and the imaginative energy of jazz, Elon\u2019s performances remind audiences that music is a living, ever-evolving art form.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n