About Drums Along The Pacific

In the spring of 1939, the noted American composers John Cage and Lou Harrison presented a series of percussion concerts at the Cornish School in Seattle. By January of the following year the two young composers had embarked upon a Northwest tour presenting percussion concerts at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, Reed College in Portland, the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, and Montana State University in Missoula, Montana—a bold experiment that composer Henry Cowell famously dubbed ‘Drums Along the Pacific.’

Cornish College of the Arts will celebrate the seventieth anniversary of these landmark percussion concerts with a special four–day festival devoted to the music of John Cage, Lou Harrison and their mentor, Henry Cowell. The festival showcases performances by the Pacific Rims Percussion Quartet, pianist Steven Drury, tenor John Duykers, the Seattle Chamber Players, and Gamelan Pacifica.

Click here to view press coverage of Drums Along The Pacific.

Festival Schedule

Click events to view more information.

The Music of Henry Cowell

Thursday, March 26, 8:00 pm

The Music of Lou Harrison

Friday, March 27, 8:00 pm

Presentations – Free Event!

Saturday, March 28, 1:00 pm

John Cage Marathon: Part I

Saturday, March 28, 4:00 pm

John Cage Marathon: Part II

Saturday, March 28, 8:00 pm

Presentations – Free Event!

Sunday, March 29, 1:00 pm

Festival Finale: Gamelan Pacifica

Sunday, March 29, 4:00 pm

Additional Information

• Location: PONCHO Concert Hall

  Cornish College of the Arts
  710 East Roy Street, Seattle, WA

  Click address for directions.

• Tickets

  • $15 General, $7.50 Students, Alumni & Seniors
  • Festival Pass: $45 General, $30 Students; Includes admission to all festival events.
  • Click here to purchase advance tickets online.
  • For more information, please call 206.726.5011.

• Free Parking

  Cornish Garage
  East Roy Street & Boylston Avenue East

  Click address for directions.

Drums Along The Pacific has been made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts as part of American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius. Additional support has been provided by PONCHO, The Boeing Company, Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Estate of Henry and Sidney Cowell, and Seattle Drum School. Media sponsorship has been provided by KUOW 94.9 Public Radio.

Event Sponsors

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