Northwestern University’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble teamed up with acclaimed Chicago-based ensembles Third Coast Percussion, Eighth Blackbird, and ~Nois Quartet for a program showcasing the work of Viet Cuong on Friday night. The concert, titled “Vital Currents: The Music of Viet Cuong,” kicked off a weekend recording project of the Vietnamese-American composer’s work.

Third Coast Percussion joined the stage for Re(new)al, a piece Cuong describes in his program note as “celebrating everyone who is working together to create a cleaner, more efficient world.” The concerto for percussion quartet is constructed of three continuous movements, each inspired by different types of renewable energy: hydro, wind, and solar. 

Hydro power was manifested by a set of crystal glasses, which Third Coast Percussion clinked together to create different chords. As in John and Jim, Cuong built up the texture gradually, adding tinkling piano, blowing air, and fluttering piccolo scales on top of the glass sonorities. The second movement brought Third Coast to a deconstructed drum kit, where they played intricate ’90s-inspired drum and bass rhythmic patterns. The choreography was as dazzling as the music, the quartet at one point circling a single snare drum like a wind turbine while triggering compressed air cans. In the third movement, Third Coast moved to a set of vibraphones. Unfortunately, the complexity of the musical lines got a bit lost as the symphonic band crescendoed to evoke the sunrise.

« Previous post: Classical Album Review: Third Coast Percussion Turns 20 — “Standard Stoppages”

Next post: Best classical and jazz of 2025: Our top 10 included a tasty concept at Ravinia, improv and a ‘moving’ performance at the CSO »