FSU’s Jacob Hunt to Present Senior Percussion Recital “Landscapes”

FSU's Jacob Hunt to Present Senior Percussion Recital "Landscapes"

Mar 30, 2026 9:00 AM

Frostburg State University's Department of Music, Theatre and Dance proudly presents the senior recital of percussionist Jacob Hunt, titled "Landscapes." The performance will take place on Sunday, April 12, at 7 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of the Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. The recital is free and open to the public. Those unable to attend in person can watch the live stream by visiting the concerts link at https://www.frostburg.edu/concerts.

Guest artists include the FSU Percussion Ensemble, directed by Dr. Mackenzie Jacob LaMont, who also serves as FSU Percussion Instructor.

Hunt, a percussionist from Frostburg, Md., is a senior at FSU pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Music. He anticipates graduating on May 21, 2026, and plans to become a high school band director. He graduated from Mountain Ridge High School in Frostburg in May 2020. His parents are Duane and Melanie Hunt of Frostburg.

Prior to FSU, Hunt studied percussion with Rob Fergusson, Thomas Sparling, Austin Pengilly and James Moss. He is affiliated with Matrix Performing Arts.

Hunt's program includes "Triptych Boom" by Chad Floyd; "In a Landscape" by John Cage; "Xylophonia" by Joseph Green (arranged by Bob Becker); and 2 movements from "Bushido: The Way of the Warrior" by John Wilmarth.

Floyd's "Triptych Boom" is a dynamic percussion quartet featuring a virtuosic snare drum soloist exploring a variety of sticks, brushes, and techniques, backed by three multi-percussionists in a groovy, energetic work built around rhythmic groupings of three.

Cage's "In a Landscape" (1948) creates a serene, zen-like soundscape. Originally composed for piano with sustained pedals to allow notes to ring continuously, it was developed in collaboration with choreographer Merce Cunningham-though the music and dance were created independently and share only timing. The result is a meditative, mind-clearing experience.

Green's "Xylophonia", arranged by Bob Becker and featuring the FSU Percussion Ensemble, is a lively early 20th-century xylophone rag that showcases brilliant mallet technique and classic vaudeville-era charm in an ensemble setting.

Wilmarth's "Bushido: The Way of the Warrior" draws inspiration from the ethical code of the Japanese samurai. The program note explains: "The samurai of Japan were not merely trained assassins but lived by a strict ethical code known as Bushido (literally meaning 'the way of the warrior'). This code influenced all aspects of life and is comparable to the Western concept of chivalry."

The two movements Hunt will perform highlight different principles and musical facets: I. Jin (Benevolence) focuses on color and timbre, evoking a meditative and reflective mood; and III. Yu (Bravery & Heroism) emphasizes rhythmic drive, influenced by taiko drumming, to depict the fierce nature of the samurai in battle.

The full program note was written by John Wilmarth in April 2006. For more information, contact the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance at 301-687-4109, [email protected], or visit music.frostburg.edu.