Marimba Masters bring happy sounds to library

The Friends of Westlake Porter Public Library presented absolutely wonderful “Sunday Sounds” Sept. 18 when they sponsored The Marimba Masters of Cleveland. The good fortune to have learned about this event, to become aware of the remarkable five Marimba Masters of Cleveland, and to sit in close proximity in the Porter Room was more than one could wish for. 

The music eminating from the marimbas (a type of deep-toned xylophone) was uplifting. It was happy. It not only brought back childhood memories of the sounds of Euclid Beach Park with its glorious merry-go-round, but also the sound of ragtime.

The Marimba Masters were organized by retired Cleveland Orchestra percussionist Joseph Abato with the purpose of fostering the performance of music of the marimba. In addition to Abato, the Masters are: Donald Miller, Cleveland Orchestra percussionist and orchestra music librarian; Bruce Golden, former percussionist of the Toledo Symphony and the Toledo Ballet; Andrew Pongracz, timpanist of the Cleveland Pops; and Matt Hunsaker, graduate of Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory, currently a graduate student at the University of Akron and Cleveland-area freelance percussionist.

The concerted music of the five marimbas, played with energy, intricacy, and perfection, made sitting still a challenge for the audience who quietly tapped feet, and moved their fingers and heads in rhythm with the melodies. The music generated a multitude of smiling faces.  This was accomplished with music by Mozart, Smetana, and Rachmaninoff, in addition to works from the 1930s and 1940s arranged for marimba. Emphasis was placed on the brothers Joseph and George Hamilton Green whose skills in composition, and performance of xylophone music were highly influential in the early 20th century.

The program, which brought such wonderfully credentialed and talented performers to Westlake, was the first of the Friends' "Sunday Sounds" in the 2011-12 season.