Walking near the Music Hall, a low rumble of drums can be heard, as if a tribal village was housed within its walls. The rumble gets louder, and is joined by the melodies of bells, marimbas and vibraphones. The ISU percussion ensemble is hard at work.

The ensemble will be rewarded for its hard work Wednesday night when it will perform at a free concert in Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall.

Thomas Rutkowski, sophomore in music and member of the ensemble, said the concert is appealing for everyone, not just music majors.

Michael Golemo, chairman of the music department and director of bands at Iowa State, said he agrees.

“They’re a fun group to watch as well as listen to – they put on a real show,” he said.

Golemo finds their show is more visually absorbing than other ensembles and that the visual aspect of percussion contributes to the success of groups such as Stomp.

“I think people see the drummers and think ‘Hey, I’d like to try that,’ something that is unique to percussion,” he said.

Rutkowski said part of its appeal is that percussive music is still coming into its own.

“Most other instruments have already had their ‘renaissance.’ For percussion, we are still in our renaissance. This type of music really only started 30 or 40 years ago,” he says.

The ensemble will play six or seven pieces Wednesday, said ISU percussion instructor Barry Larkin. He said among the more interesting compositions the ensemble will perform are “Taqsim” by Scott R. Meister, which features the use of fishing line on the cymbals and “Gymel” by William Duckworth.

“[“Gymel” is] a minimalism piece based on repeating patterns. Performers actually create the piece from predetermined material,” he said.

In addition to the drums and mallets, the concert will also feature some vocals. “Shock Factor” by Nathan Daughtrey will feature sections of percussive shouting and “Eye Irascible” by Steve Riley will feature singing from the ensemble.

Larkin said learning the complex arrangements can be difficult if everyone isn’t on the same page. He said in percussion, every piece usually involves a new arrangement of instruments.

Getting used to a new setup is usually quite challenging for new students.

“If one person comes in wrong, it’s one of those ‘Hi mom’ moments,” he says.

“It’s what musicians call ‘falling in a hole.'”

Larkin said the ensemble has made tremendous progress since they began practicing.

“We are going to [perform] two concerts a semester next year because we have improved so much. The students are bored,” he said.

The ensemble has had to make some last-minute adjustments. Larkin said one member dropped out of school and the ensemble enlisted the help of former music major Matt Nelson, who graduated two years ago and plays with Larkin in the Des Moines Symphony.

“We had an odd year between sicknesses and dropouts, so I think that we are making good progress, given the situation,” Rutkowski said.

He said the atmosphere for their concerts is quite laid-back with around 200 people in attendance, although many in attendance are those required to attend for class credit.

“I don’t like it when people come to the concert just for a class, and leave after the first song,” said Rutkowski.

“It’s rude, and if you are coming to watch, stay for it all.”

Golemo, who also conducts the ISU wind ensemble, said hearing the piece played to perfection in a live setting is “tremendously exhilarating.”

“I think everybody strives for the perfect performance,” he said. “Although judging a performance can be highly subjective, I think we’ve known, and I think the audience knows.”

Larkin agreed.

“It is the best feeling I have ever felt. It is hard to describe, but I am the luckiest man alive to do this for a living,” he said.