(Posted August 20, 2012)

James Latten, associate professor of music, practicing on an electronic drum set.
James Latten, associate professor of music, practicing on an electronic drum set.

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Although he's usually busy drumming up musicians to play in Juniata College's instrumental ensembles, James Latten, associate professor of music, will take time out from teaching to perform a solo recital at 4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 25, in Rosenberger Auditorium in the Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Latten, who joined the Juniata faculty in 2002 as the full-time director of the instrumental music program. He has expanded the program in the decade he has been at Juniata, attracting more than 120 students to perform in the college's various ensembles.

In addition, Latten also wrote and debuted his original composition, "IMR: Images of Magnetic Resonance," which was inspired by a series of MRI medical tests, at Juniata's Halbritter Center in 2006.

In Saturday's solo concert Latten will play a variety of instruments, including snare drum on "Evocation No. 1," by William Shinstine and "Batteries Not Included," a piece written for solo marching tenor drums (a five drum set, familiar to fans of marching bands).

Latten also wrote and debuted his original composition, "IMR: Images of Magnetic Resonance," which was inspired by a series of MRI medical tests, at Juniata's Halbritter Center in 2006.

The vibraphone, which is a table-like instrument struck with mallets, popular with jazz musicians, will be used in the song "Tranquility." Then, Latten will play marimba for another song "The Offering," by Michael Burritt. Finally, Latten will play marimba on the selection "Michi," written by acclaimed marimba musician Keiko Abe.

The last selection before intermission will be "World Domination Part Two," written for a solo musician to play a variety of percussion instruments.

In the second half of the program, Latten will perform "Mirror Image," written by Chris Hanning for solo vibraphone and a recording. Latten will dip into his classical repertoire to play "Kom Susser Tod," written by Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

Switching back to concert tympani drums, Latten will perform "Sonata for Tympani," by John Beck. For the final selection, Latten will invite another Juniata professor/musician, John Bukowski. professor of mathematics and a pianist, to collaborate on "Triplets," a jazz foxtrot piece for xylophone and piano.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.