By Brenna Angel
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wuky/local-wuky-960968.mp3
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky percussion ensemble plays its spring concert on Sunday. As Brenna Angel reports, the performance will feature some rather old instruments that were new to students and their professor.
At this weekend's performance of the UK percussion ensemble, audience members will likely be familiar with sounds of the marimba, vibraphone, and probably even the steelpan, played by graduate student Brad Meyer.
(sound of steelpan)
"It has about 35 notes on it. And it's considered the highest register of the steel band."
There will be some unusual sounds, too. This is a waterphone.
(sound of a water phone)
But the percussion students will also be playing several instruments that until recently, ensemble director James Campbell wasn't even familiar with. Like this antique friction harp.
(sound of a friction harp)
"I actually e-mailed friends and said How do you play this stuff?'" says Campbell.
The friction harp -- played by rubbing the metal rods -- is part of a large collection of novelty instruments recently donated to the University of Kentucky. The donors are actually patrons of the school's opera program. Their vaudeville-era instruments were going unused in a basement.
"I drove to Illinois and picked them up and it's just a great find. Some of them are one-of-a-kind things that haven't been made in 80 years," says Campbell.
Most of the music that will be performed at the concert was written in the past few years. But Campbell says the ensemble will substitute in some of the novelty instruments to give a more nostalgic feel.
These 1920s hand bells were once mounted in a theater organ.
(sound of hand bells circa 1920)
"We're lucky we have them here and they're part of the university's School of Music and we'll try to play them as much as we can."
Campbell says someone offered to pay $10,000 dollars just for one of the instruments in the collection. UK isn't selling.
The percussion ensemble plays this Sunday afternoon at 3 at the Singletary Center. The concert is free and open to the public.