No trumpets, no flutes, not even a violin or two will be present at a School of Music concert tonight -- it's nothing but percussion.

Two percussion ensembles from the school will hold the concert at 8 tonight in Esber Recital Hall in Music Building I, with free admission.

Jesse Steinweg-Woods (junior-meteorology and energy business and finance), who is a member of percussion ensemble II, said that the ensemble is a one-credit course and that he joined as a way to escape the boredom of regular classes. "I needed to take some arts credits, and I saw something that said percussion ensemble and tried out and got in," Steinweg-Woods said. "It's so different from usual class work. It gives me a chance to relax."

Steinweg said the performance will feature four pieces, three of which will emphasize mallet percussion, but one is particularly different. "One of them is a traditional African-type tribal piece that uses African [percussion] instruments and drums," Steinweg-Woods said. "There are no mallets."

Another piece the percussion ensemble is playing is called "Normandy Beach 1944."

"It is extremely difficult," Steinweg-Woods said.

Some of the instruments that will be used include marimbas, vibraphones, a gong, suspended symbol, African percussion instruments, congas, bongos and a pair of tom toms. A brake drum, which is thus named because it comes from the brake of a car, will also be used in the concert.

Steinweg-Woods said each ensemble will have its own time to perform its selection of pieces.

Sally Smith (freshman-engineering science) is also a member of percussion ensemble II. She said she agreed with Steinweg-Wood that it is an excellent break from everyday classes.

"It was hard because I have all these engineering classes," she said. "You have to do something different. It's a nice break. It's comfortable."

Smith also said a lot of non-music majors are involved.

David Ortiz (sophomore-music performance and information sciences and technology) said that for the past three semesters, he has been a member of the mallet ensemble. He said he really enjoys it, and this semester, the mallet ensemble has a unique assortment of pieces to perform. "We have a couple arrangements of piano pieces, a xylophone rag or two, an arrangement of an orchestral piece, an arrangement of a piece from an opera composer, and a quartet for mallet percussion and some other percussion," he said.

Ortiz said the mallet ensemble has been preparing for this concert since the middle of February. He added that he really enjoys being a part of the ensemble.