From traditional Afro-Cuban hymns to medieval melodies, music spanning centuries was presented during the R&R Percussion/Trombone Duo Saturday in the Recital Hall of the Doudna Fine Arts Center.

The duet was part of the music department’s Faculty Recital Series. Assistant professors Jamie Ryan and Jemmie Robertson played percussion and trombone, respectively.

Robertson said the music for percussion and trombone can vary.

“We wanted to feature different colors of sound,” he said.

While introducing the fourth piece of the recital, titled “Stereogram No. 11- Miami,” Ryan said he wanted to give an accurate feel of the piece’s American-Cuban salsa tones.

“This is to sound like a two-person salsa, we hope,” he said.

Despite only having two members to perform, Ryan could be often found bouncing around from one percussion instrument to the next, making it seem as though more musicians were present.

Robertson said the term “stereogram” stated in the title gave the piece layers of sound and different registers.

“Stereogram No. 11-Miami” differed greatly from the compilation of three pieces titled “Three Medieval Dances.”

Audience members were able to experience sounds dating back to the 1400s.

Ryan’s percussion included instruments attached to the foot, and a tambourine.

To continue, each musician played a solo piece.

Ryan said before his solo, Robertson deserved a rest.

“It’s time to give those lips a break,” he said.

Ryan played and sang a diverse solo, sourced from traditional Afro-Cuban styles, titled “Orishas.”

“Orishas” is derived from Cuba, as a form of religious music, which Ryan arranged as a solo.

He sang hymns while playing two different forms of percussion.

In the beginning of the piece, Ryan’s voice was clear, echoing the walls of the Recital Hall; as the piece continued, Ryan’s voice became subdued, as his work on the congas took over.

Ryan said he is very familiar with this style of music, working with the genre for multiple decades.

“It has been three to four decades now,” he said. “I can’t believe how long it’s been.”

Ryan co-founded “El Can Destino,” an Afro-Cuban quartet and played congas and sacred bata drums, according to his biography on Eastern’s website.

Robertson said his solo, “Etude No. 7,” was originally written for the trumpet.

“It just happens to sound better on the trombone,” he said, as members from the audience laughed.

Robertson used the solo as way to reflect on his teachings.

“When I teach, I put an emphasis on etudes, which I think students tend to avoid,” he said. “It’s important to explore expressions.”

For two of the final three pieces, Robertson and Ryan joined together to tell two different stories.

The first of the two was to express the works of Shakespeare.

The two parts in the encompassed piece crossed centuries, with the first composer, Ambroise Thomas, being of the late 1800s, and the second, Radiohead, from 1986.

“(The first piece) is to imitate Hamlet’s tortured speech,” Robertson said.

The second for the Shakespeare piece was composed for the 1996 Romeo and Juliet movie, and exemplified two lovers, Ryan said.

The final piece, “Ohio River Journal,” depicted different scenes of composer David P. Jones’ experiences on the Ohio River with a “big band jazz” flare.

Ryan said this was a piece he has been meaning to perform for a while.

“I was supposed to do this with an old friend, but never got around to it,” he said. “(Robertson) was up to the task.”

Part three of the four-part “Ohio River Journal,” called “Latent Storms,” lent to an eerie feel, much like unfavorable or dangerous weather.

Robertson said he heard about one of the pieces, “Pair Up,” from a former student after the student showed it to him on YouTube.

“We stole it from him,” he said. “Beware, students. We will ‘borrow’ your suggestions.”

Through most of the recital either Robertson or Ryan would take the lead to showcase one instrument at a time; however, “Pair Up” suited its title. Both Robertson and Ryan played with the same power simultaneously.

Robertson said he appreciated the audience and the “live experience.”

“This is a moment we all share together,” he said.

Megan Ivey can be reached at 581-2812 or at mkivey@eiu.edu.