Art inspires art for program's percussionist

By Lisa Millegan
lmillegan@modbee.com

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Composers have written music inspired by art before but it is rare to find music and art created by the same person.

Percussionist William Hill has pulled it off and will perform "Seven Abstract Miniatures" with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra at its "Premiere Percussion" show

Nov. 6-7 at the Gallo Center for the Arts. Slides of his pen and ink drawings will be shown during the concerts.

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- WHAT: Modesto Symphony Orchestra's Premiere Percussion: Beethoven 4
- WHEN: 8 p.m. Nov. 6-7
- WHERE: Rogers Theater, Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I St., Modesto
- TICKETS: $30-$72
- CALL: 338-2100
- ONLINE: www.galloarts.org

Hill, 55, of Littleton, Colo., wrote "Seven Little Miniatures" more than 20 years ago and premiered it with an orchestra in the Czech Republic. The drawings are abstract and the music features jazz, modern and impressionistic influences.

"It's a really wide palette of color in the orchestra and of course in the solo percussion," he said.

The art is inspired by the area in which he lives.

"On the Mall," as one example, is an abstract drawing of Denver's 16th Street Mall, which features a mix of high-end restaurants and shops, fast-food places and drug stores.

"It's a place that has always been a bizarre mix of humanity," he said. "Everything from business people running out to get lunch to rather wealthy recreational shoppers doing their thing. There's also quite a number of street people and homeless that hang out there asking for handouts."

Audiences respond well to the music, Hill said.

"Definitely, they really love it," he said. "It's also quite difficult to play. There are a lot of really subtle effects."