Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil ‘Varekai’ musicians visit Shepherd School’s Percussion Studio

BY DAVID LONG
Special to the Rice News

During the Houston stop on Cirque du Soleil’s North American tour of “Varekai,” ethnic percussionist Rafik Samman and wind instrumentalist Wayne Hankin paid several visits to the Shepherd School of Music’s Percussion Studio for several impromptu master classes and workshop recitals. “Varekai” was performed at Reliant Park Jan. 6 through Feb. 13.

Photo by David Long

Cirque du Soleil’s Wayne Hankin, left, a specialist in unique wind instruments, demonstrates a new technique for playing the jaw harp for Shepherd School students in the Percussion Studio. While in Houston to perform “Varekai,” Hankin and percussionist Rafik Samman took time for several master classes and workshop recitals with the students.

When he wasn’t performing, Cirque du Soleil percussionist Samman worked with students on playing framedrums; dumbeks, a Middle Eastern goblet-shaped drum; and the riq, a Middle Eastern tambourine with heavy sets of jingles installed in two rows around the frame. Samman is writing a piece for the percussion studio for four marimbas and ethnic percussion based on Middle Eastern rhythmic patterns. Titled “Run Run,” the piece will be performed in a concert this spring.

“Samman’s and Hankin’s visits provide some exposure for our students and provide them with some real-world applications,” said Richard Brown, professor of percussion and director of Percussion Studio. “Our objective is to produce thoroughly qualified and artistically sensitive musicians who are prepared with the skills needed to make a living as percussionists.”

Hankin is a specialist in unique wind instruments, playing more than 40 instruments for Cirque du Soleil. His harp master class provided not only the basics about playing the instrument, but also advanced skills such as plucking and vocalizing. Hankin is a varied and flexible instrumentalist and is currently writing a piece for the Shepherd School Percussion Studio for 10 harps and ethnic percussion.

The Shepherd School has one of the most active and productive percussion studios in the country. Carefully selected from both graduate and undergraduate applicants, this intense group of students works under the full-time guidance of Brown. Members of this group have consistently won places in every major summer festival, most recently Tanglewood, the National Repertory Orchestra, the National Orchestral Institute, the Pacific Music Festival and the Spoleto Festival.

Former Percussion Studio students are performing with symphonies in Vancouver, Honolulu, Puerto Rico and Detroit, as well as with the U.S. Marine Band. Current students frequently serve as extra players for the Houston Symphony Orchestra.

—David Long is the Web editor for the Shepherd School of Music.