Viva La Musica! is this Sunday at 4:00 pm. For me, this is a different kind of program. Since the date fell on Cinco de Mayo, we agreed to make that the theme. Immediately, I realized that I know very little of this repertoire.
After consulting with some of my contacts in the music scene around Detroit and securing my collaborators, Mike List and Patrick Fitzgibbon, I instantly felt better. Both members of Rela Percussion (https://www.relapercussion.com), these seasoned musicians have a lot of experience with music from around the world.
Personally, I enjoyed exploring Spanish organ music of Soler and Cabezon, and then the piano output of Mexicans Ponce and Chavez. A highlight for me was discovering Aaron Copland's El Salón México, which Copland wrote on a trip to visit Chavez in Mexico City. Inspired by dance music in the hall of the same name, it has become an orchestral favorite. Then I discovered that there is a piano arrangement by Leonard Bernstein. You can't go wrong!
I hope you join us on Sunday to hear some of the sounds of Mexico, and enjoy some tasty treats at our reception which follows, as we celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
Sean Michael
About the Performers
Mike List
Mike List is a globalized percussionist based out of Detroit, MI playing both Western and non-Western instruments from around the globe. Mike has performed in a variety of musical settings including rock, jazz, classical, contemporary art music, percussion solo, and world music fusion ensembles. He currently works with the Mediterranean fusion ensemble ‘Wisaal’, marimba/world percussion duet, ‘To Hit.’, and the percussion quartet ‘Rela’. Mike holds a Master of Music and Bachelor of Music in percussion performance from Central Michigan University and has also studied tabla, mbira, and Arabic percussion. Along with performing, Mike teaches privately and works at Oakland Community College teaching courses on the ‘History of Rock and Roll’ and ‘World Music.’
Patrick Fitzgibbon
Patrick Fitzgibbon is a percussionist with experience and training in world music, jazz, and classical traditions. Patrick attended Michigan State University where he earned a scholarship from the School of Music and studied under Alison Shaw, Jon Weber, and David Hall. After graduating in 2005, Patrick traveled to India to volunteer at Shanti Bhavan boarding school as well as studying tabla under Rahul Pophali. He then spent time traveling the world on Norweigan and Holland America Cruise Lines as a show band drummer. After a semester at the California Institute of the Arts studying with Randy Gloss and David Johnson, Patrick returned to Michigan to attend Oakland University where he earned a Masters in Percussion Performance studying with Mark Stone. Located near Detroit, Patrick keeps a busy schedule performing throughout the city as well as running his own steel drum ensemble that performs throughout Michigan. His original compositions are performed by percussion quartet, Rela, and can also be heard in promotional materials for Ford, Bosch Automotive, and theDetroitJournal.com. Patrick currently serves on the music faculty of Oakland University where he teaches the Steelband and courses on world music.
Read the program notes here!
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