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Drum of Orfeo - World Premiere of the Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra by Marta Ptaszyńska
2009-05-19
Next Friday, 22nd May in the Łódź Philharmonic the Premier of the Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra, "DRUM OF ORFEO" will take place. This will be a meeting of two fantastic percussionists and giant individuals of the musical world: the composer – Marta Ptaszyńska, and performer – Evelyn Glennie, for whom the piece was written. The Symphonic Orchesta of the Łódź Philharmonic will be conducted by Wojciech Michniewski.Evelyn Glennie
- Scottish percusisonist, composer, pedagogue and motivational speaker. She is currently one of the most multi-faceted and creative musicians. She continuously sets herself new goals, which she then achieves and redefines her own expectations regarding the possibilities of the percusion instrumentarium. Thanks to her perfect technique, immense musicality and personal charisma her performances are an outstanding, new kind of event.
She gives over 100 concerts per year, performing all over the world with the most accomplished conductors, orchestras and artists from various musical fields. She has received many awards, including honorary doctorates from several Universities.
Since 12 years of age she had serious damage to her hearing. During her performances and lectures she shows that it is possible to hear not only with our ears but also with our whole bodies. As Evelyn says – hearing is a form of touch. In 2004 a film was made about her – "Touch the Sound" directed by Thomas Riedelsheimer.
Evelyn Glennie: How to listen to music with your whole body:
>> www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU3V6zNER4g
Evelyn Glennie’s website
>> www.evelyn.co.uk
DRUM OF ORFEO was written in 2000-2002. This piece, which combines the features of classical virtuoso concerto with elements of theater, I understood in the strictest sense. The percussionist is not only a musical performer, but is also an actor who "plays" their role on the stage. As an actress-percussionist, Evelyn Glennie, wandering around the stage with a drum, symbolizes the Orpheus’s mythical journey through Hades. Lighting plays an important role in this theatrical work. Suggestions for lighting are in the score. In performing the concerto it is recommended to use the proposed ideas about lighting, but the piece can also be played where the lighting possibilities are limited, adapting the lighting to the situation.
The array of percussion instruments is extremely rich and in addition to the traditional percussion instruments such as marimba, vibraphone, crotales, drums, cymbals, gongs, triangle, solo percussion includes a number of oriental percussion instruments, such as hand drums, Bodhrans, Japanese Odaiko drum, a Peking opera gong, Thai Gongs, Japanese temple bells, agogo steel pan (metal drum) and Sarna bells.
The concerto consists of five contrasting parts, and each has a different set of percussion, which is located on another part of the stage. This gives the opportunity to showcase virtuoso soloist on various sets of instruments, and brings the listener many interesting visual experiences. [Marta Ptaszyńska]
About the composer:
>> www.pwm.com.pl/ptaszynska
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