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 Dr.
Sigurd H. Johnson, Director of Bands and Percussion at
Valley City State University,
is a native of Northfield Minnesota. Johnson holds the Bachelor of
Arts degree in English from Concordia College in Moorhead MN, a
Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Northwestern
University in Evanston IL, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in
Percussion Performance and Theory from the University of Memphis in
Memphis TN. Prior to joining the Music Department at VCSU, Johnson
served as Director of Bands and Instrumental Music at Rust College
in Holly Springs MS, as well as a percussion arranger and instructor
on the staff of the University of Memphis Marching Band. While
living in the mid-south, Johnson was a member of the percussion
section of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, an active jazz and
theater freelance performer and clinician/adjudicator. Johnson also
spent 4 years teaching and performing in Norway, where he often
returns during the summer to teach percussion at various music
camps. Johnson is also involved in VCSU's Community School of the
Arts as an instructor of percussion, and is the conductor of the
Valley City Civic Orchestra. Johnson spends part of his summer
teaching percussion at the International Music Camp, where he is
also an associate member of the IMC Board. Johnson is active in the
upper Midwest as a percussion/jazz ensemble clinician and
adjudicator, as well as a guest conductor of Festival and Honor
bands. Johnson is endorsed by Sabian Cymbals Ltd.
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Composer Robert J.
Damm writes:
The Udu:
The udu is a traditional fired clay instrument which originated from
the ancient Ibo tribe in Nigeria. It owes its original design
primarily to water vessels, from which it descended over a period of
many years. Sometimes the udu is used in ritual and cultural
ceremonies in Nigeria. A similar instrument, called the Ghatam, is
utilized in the classical music of India. The udu can be heard on
many popular recordings where it is generally utilized to provide an
accompanying groove, and exotic color or an improvised solo.
The Composition:
Udu Dances was written to showcase the udu as a solo instrument in
the recital hall setting. The suite was inspired by three unique
musical traditions, each of which accommodates a diversity of
styles:
I. Latin - American 2/4 and 4/4 consists of rhythms found in
the Cuban bolero and mambo, the Caribbean calypso, the Brazilian
samba and other dances.
II. Middle Eastern 7/8 draws upon dances (e.g. dawr hindi)
typical of Turkey and Arabic countries.
III. West African 6/8 utilizes rhythm patterns characteristic
of the Ewe dances such as the agbadza and atsia. Similar patterns
aslo are found in Afro-Cuban rhythms such as the bembe and nanigo.
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