So Percussion

Who would have thought that a cactus would have the ability to entertain an auditorium full of people for hours?  I must say, after attending So Percussion’s performance I believe it is possible.  Walking in to the performance, I felt like I knew what to expect yet had no idea what I had gotten myself in to.  Having the opportunity to talk to some of the members of the group before the performance had a world of impact on the show.  While we got very few specifics on the show that we were seeing later that night, the performers gave us insights into what they believe they accomplish during a show.  It provided me with a bit more knowledge to help me not lose my footing in a show full of old coffee cans, seashells, leaves, and, yes, a cactus. 

 Each person views art in a different way, projecting what they feel they know and understand onto the work.  Just like with viewing a painting, people will have different understandings of the thing that they hear.  Different people have very different tastes in music, and I’m sure many could argue for hours over why one genre is better than another.  The members of So Percussion realize this and understand that they can’t please everyone.  Not everyone can like a group that uses a video of someone brushing their teeth as a source of a beat.  When listening to them talk before the show I was sure it was going to be right up my alley.  Being a self-proclaimed music enthusiast with a love for quirky things I was convinced this was the show for me.  While enthusiast I may be, I know very little about music itself which may have decreased my adoration for the show that I was so convinced would rock my world.

For a group of graduates from Yale music school who play with found objects all day, I was not prepared for the show to be so serious.  While there were parts I really enjoyed, such as the use of the videos along with the music and the interesting use of every day objects in the show, I was not ready for such serious undertones to the pieces.  When discussing their craft, they said that they had to find the perfect medium to that a person with no musical knowledge and someone with a PhD in music theory could enjoy the show so perhaps the seriousness was necessary.  I felt the need to dissect everything they were doing and why they decided to use what instruments for what piece although I went in ready to enjoy myself.  Perhaps if I had entered the show with a different mindset I would have enjoyed it more.  While it was fascinating to hear the performers take on their craft before the show I think I would have preferred to go in with an open mind and no preconceived notions.