Mallets & Melodies

Pre-Concert Conversation with Classical Minnesota Public Radio’s John Birge
and special guest Fernando Meza at 7 pm

The VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers and twenty marimbas will surround the audience as they perform Gabrieli’s Magnificat à 33 — a stunning work with 33 separate melodic voices spread throughout the Cathedral of Saint Paul.

This collaborative performance, in conjunction with the Marimba 2010 International Festival & Conference, also features three world premieres — Jorge Córdoba is commemorating the Mexican Bicentennial with a new work, and Stephen Paulus is composing a piece for chorus and marimba as well as a new arrangement of his celebrated “Pilgrim’s Hymn.” Join VocalEssence and conductor Philip Brunelle for a sensational surround sound experience!

Marimba Nandayapa performs "Flight of the Bumblebee"

Mallets & Melodies Performance Repertoire

(not in program order)

Giovanni Gabrieli, Magnificat á33
Arranged by Scott Hirsch for 20 marimbas and chorus
Performed by 30 marimba players and the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers

Stephen Paulus, Visions (world premiere)
Composed for four marimbas and the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers
Featuring marimba players She-e Wu, Ivana Bilic, Angel Frette, and Fernando Meza

Stephen Paulus, Pilgrims’ Hymn (world premiere)
Arranged by the composer for two marimbas and the VocalEssence Chorus &  Ensemble Singers
Featuring marimba players Nanae Mimura and Nancy Zeltsman

Jorge Córdoba, Aquí ha nacido el tiempo (world premiere)
Composed for Marimba Nandayapa and the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers
Based on the poetry of Roberto Moreno
Featuring Marimba Nandayapa (marimba ensemble)

Eric Sayre, In Paradisum
Featuring the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers

Samuel Barber, Adagio
Arranged for 20 marimbas by Robert Chappell
Featuring the University of Minnesota Marimba Ensemble and friends

Peter Klatzow, Return of the Moon (movements 1, 4 & 5)
Composed for one marimba and chorus
Featuring marimbist Svet Stoyanov and the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers

Traditional, Bawa, a Dagara Harvest Dance (arranged by Sowah Mensah)
Arranged for chorus and African ensemble
Featuring the African Music Ensemble of Macalester College and the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers

Performers:

Ivana Bilic  
Angel Frette  
Nanae Mimura  
Fernando Meza  
Svet Stoyanov  
She-e Wu  
Nancy Zeltsman  
Marimba Nandayapa (quintet)  
University of Minnesota Marimba Ensemble
VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers; Philip Brunelle, conductor