Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / March 1, 2000, edition 1 / Page 15
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT March 1,2000 • theSeahawk Music Review: Percussion Ensembie shows off rhythm by TIM HENNIE Staff Writer The UNCW Percussion Ensemble put on their first rhythmic display at 8 p.m. last Thursday in Kenan Auditorium. Latin and African beats bounced among the relatively empty seats. I was quite surprised to find such a sparse crowd, my past experience with “primitive” rhythms had been moving- that is, I was moved to leave my seat and dance like a maniac. The ensemble’s performance touched on various drum styles of early civilizations and tribes. The Samba and Cha-Cha were particularly groovy; bass lines churning, xy lophones ringing, skins thumping along. Di rector John Rack joined his students on many of the tunes. The compositions were performed off sheet music; to join the ensemble, one must be able to read music. Many of the tunes were a bit stifled by this fact. The music neared mathematical precision, but tlie per formers were not given the freedom to ex tend the rhythm. One of the advantages of ensemble drumming is the fluidity by which funky variations of a steady beat fluctuate in the music’s forefront. Though lacking that prominent fluidity, the power of rhythm got Kathryn Schley/ The Seahawk UNCW’s percussion ensemble played a diverse selection of world beats Feb. 24 in Kenan Auditorium. The ensemble was directed by John Rack. me out of my seat, dancing like a maniac. “ [We] had very little time to prepare the pieces, but the adjustment has been relatively easy,” Rack said. The drum circle closed with a selection of West African beats. Using authentic Afri can drums, the ensemble gave the audience with a series of celebratory and ceremoni ous compositions from places like Ghana and Harta. Each piece was lead by a master drummer, where one member of the group was allowed to roam on top of vigorous backing rhythms. For the Harvest Song, “Kundum,” John Rack and student John DeVeaux pushed the master drums fiercely into the forefront. iriirMniiMiM When it came to light that the groom’s ex-fiance had issued a restrain ing order against him, questions about his actual economic status and rumors of an existing girlfriend also came up. Viewers tuned into programs such as “Good Morning America,” “Later To day” and “Dateline” to get the full story. “The news of the scandal heightened my interest of the situation,” said jun ior MeLani Campos. “That’s just the naturally curious side of me.” In a period of less than one year, a reprised British television show served as the catalyst for bigger and better com petitions, with contestants vying for money and networks for the most view ers. “Greed” added the harshness of competition. “Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire?” added the marriage of strangers and a scandal used by ma jor news shows. “I think people have become more and more desensitized through the me dia. Certain issues and forms of enter tainment progressively have become more acceptable. People will want to watch others do things, though they may never do it themselves,” said psychol ogy major Jason Wall. According to Weber, the gradual in crease in the media’s search for sensa tionalism is “like having to turn the music up louder and louder because you get used to it. We accommodate to it.” One could consider “Faces of Death’ videos one such form of extreme enter tainment . Since the 1970s and ’80s, the videos began making their way into the homes of teenagers and eventually the news. The “Faces of Death” series com piles of actual footage of people dying in graphic ways. Stephanie, who wishes her last name not to be used, is the assistant manager of a local Endless Entertainment video rental store. As an anthropology major, Stephanie has watched videos in this category and tries to discourage children from renting the films. “I just couldn’t stomach it,” she said. “So when kids come in here. I’ll call their parents and get permission before I let them take it home.” Though she knows of no written law to prevent children from renting certain types of videos, Stephanie takes steps to prevent young teenagers from watch ing. The slasher videos are popular with people from about 16 years and up and at both Endless Entertainment stores, they are some of the highest rented genres, according to Stephanie. As television and other forms of me dia begin to collide, the trend for more stimulating forms of entertainment will escalate. In the future, television may be more extreme than it is today, which may still not be enough for some people, according to Weber. m CAROLINASII FINE DINING (next door) Reservations 256-5008 No Wait for the Piano Bar Guaranteed WITH ANY Entree 1610 Pavilion Pu^ce Wilmington, NC 28403 910.256.3522 The dance has always been a fundraiser for the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN), so all proceeds were donated to the charity. The hospital in this region is Duke Children’s hospital, which dispenses $24 million in un reimbursed care every year. The donations help them do that. CMN representative Janis Netherland gave a brief speech at the beginning of the dance. She told participants about many of the technologies that Duke Children’s Hos pital has developed, like liquid ventilation, a method of helping premature babies’ lungs develop in a liquid instead of the air, which can damage the fragile organs. She showed a brief video presentation showing the chil dren at the hospital. “Thank you so much for making a difference,” Netherland said at the end of her speech. “Netherland’s presentation was really meaningful,” Fullwood said. Mattocks and three members of the dance’s committee took a trip to the hospi tal . “I was able to visit Duke Children’s Hos pital with my committee and it really touched my heart,” she said. “They are find ing cures, doing operations that you would not believe. It really made me realize what we are doing this for.” In late March, Mattocks plans to hold a mini-marathon that will be more casual and similar to a club. It will also benefit CMN. 5032 Market St. 28405 (910) 392-1101 1-800-833-4721 Four Points* HOTELS Sheraton Sun.- Thurs. $69.00 Fri.- Sat $79.00 •Centrally located between Historic Downtown and Wrightsville Beach •Indoor Heated Pool and Spa •Complimentary Continental Breakfast Mon.- Fri. 6:30A.M.-11:00 A.M. •2 Miles from UNCW Campus t
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March 1, 2000, edition 1
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