The Wayne State College Department of Music invited Dr. Daniel Rowland to perform a tuba recital in Ley Theater on Nov. 7 to help introduce students to new music.

Rowland is an Assistant Professor of Low Brass and Instrumental Education at the University of Wisconsin in Platteville. He’s performed with many orchestras and he is an active member of the International Tuba Euphonium Association. He specializes in playing unique and contemporary music on the tuba and euphonium.

Rowland said the type of music he played for WSC was contemporary unaccompanied music for mixed media. Rowland performed his recital with an electronic accompaniment.

“The electronic accompaniment can produce a unique range of sounds that you can’t get with a traditional accompaniment,” Rowland said. “It gives the pieces more of a fantasy, almost film sore-like feel.”

Unlike traditional tuba recitals with classical music, Rowland kicked off his recital by playing a heavy metal piece called “Metal Monday.” Some of his other pieces were “Tomes of the Wanderer,” “Bit Rot for Tuba” and “Computer.”

“My favorite piece was definitely Metal Monday,” sophomore music major June Brusoe said. “I listen to a lot of metal music on my own, but it was interesting to hear it played on a tuba.”

Brusoe said for her major, she has to attend 13 recitals this semester. She said this one introduced her to an interesting style of music. This was one of Rowland’s goals and reason to performing the recital.

Rowland also performed an unaccompanied, solo piece composed by Laszlo Dubrovay to conclude his performance. It featured many unique sounds that can be made with a tuba.

“It may sound random, but I am sure Dubrovay was very intentional when writing this piece,” Rowland said about his last piece.

“I want to introduce students to new and unique music,” Rowland said. “I also want to encourage them to try this type of music.”

Rowland came to Wayne State because he posted on Facebook that he was looking to perform recitals in the Midwest to share his new and interesting music. He said Wayne State professor and fellow tuba instrumentalist, Dr. Josh Calkin responded and invited him to perform at WSC.

“I enjoy doing these types of recitals,” Rowland said. “It’s fun for me and its fun for the audience, and maybe they will be inspired to try something new.”