Elegy: Snow in June (1991) by Tan Dun - Performed by the UD Graduate Percussion Group

Performed by the University of Delaware Graduate Percussion Group Co-Directors: Gene Koshinski and Tim Broscious Group members: Dan Albertson, Gage Kroljic, Zach Odom, and Andrew Simmons. Cello Soloist: Christian Hartman Audio and Video by Gage Kroljic PROGRAM NOTES "The image of snow in June comes from a 13th century Chinese drama by Kuan Han-Ching, in which a young woman, Dou Eh, is executed for crimes she did not commit. Even nature cries out for her innocence - her blood does not fall to earth but flies upward, a heavy snow falls in June, and a drought descends for three years. Elegy sings of pity and purity, beauty and darkness, and is a lament for victims everywhere. The work is a set of free variations. Beginning with sparse, searching phrases, it coalesces to the theme which emerges in the middle then disperses again. The voice of the cello opposes and joins four groups of percussion which each are given solo passages. The singing of the cello contrasts with the sound of tearing paper or the roughness of stones and cans. Elegy was commissioned by the New Music Consort and was first performed by Madeleine Shapiro (cello) with Claire Heldrich conducting." —Tan Dun UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE GRADUATE PERCUSSION GROUP The award winning Graduate Percussion Group is a fully funded fellowship program. Each member is awarded a fellowship for their studies at UD by co-directing and performing in this ensemble. Coached and mentored by the faculty ensemble in residence (Quey Percussion Duo), the Graduate Percussion Group is actively engaged in artistic creativity on a daily basis through rehearsing, performing, and administration of a self-sustaining ensemble that straddles the line between collegiate and professional performing experiences. The Graduate Percussion Group presents regular programs throughout the year in addition to numerous projects related to audio recording, video production, outreach, recruiting, competitions, and composer-performer experiences. Graduate Percussion Group members also often perform side-by-side with guest and faculty artists.In addition to performances, as a self-sustaining ensemble, each student will assume administrative roles to guarantee the success of the ensemble such as scheduling, programming, recruiting, outreach, marketing and promotion, and social media management to name a few.

Added 27 Sept 2026