The Composers Concordance presents a varied program featuring percussion and chamber instruments on Thursday, May 25, 2006, 8PM at the New York University Loewe Theatre, 35 W. 4th St. (between Greene St. and Washington Square East). Tickets are $12, $10 seniors and students, TDF accepted. 212-564-4899.

Steve Reich's Nagoya Marimbas performed by the DoubleStop Percussion Duo of Peter Jarvis and April McCloskey continues Reich's foray into phases of musical phrases, here with virtuosic content. Crystal, by Elliott Schwartz has a different kind of brittle, glittering percussion as Tom Goldstein compliments the piano part of Paul Hoffmann, in a piece that was written especially for them.

William Mayer's Octagon is a many-sided gem here played by duo pianists Christopher Oldfather and Judith Olson. As one of Mayer's most venturesome works, one hears the many dimensions of the original piano concerto version, premiered in Carnegie Hall by William Masselos.

Ruth Schonthal's Bells of Sarajevo is a stark portrait of war, rendered by Esther Lamneck, clarinet and Martha Locker on "prepared" piano. Additional sounds of objects placed on the piano strings call up visions of war's pointlessness and destructiveness, so pertinent to our own time.

Patrick Hardish, in his Sonorities VIII for four timpani (one player) maximizes the contrast in sounds available with these four kettle drums. The performer is Peter Jarvis. Marta Ptaszynska combines virtuosity with an elegiac quality in her Elegia in Memoriam John Paul II for solo viola, performed by Michael Hall in this New York premiere.

And, we will be continuing our exchange with Russian composers with Angel's Dance for oboe and piano by Sergei Belikov. This piece shows a quirky, improvisational side to his work as performed by Miriam Kapner, oboe and Judith Olson, piano.