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Holland Festival Proms: Africa Express presents... Terry Riley's In C Mali

Africa Express, Terry Riley

Africa Express – a collective of African and Western musicians – brings together artists from different cultures, genres and generations for exceptional collaborative events. They will perform Africa Express presents…Terry Riley’s In C Mali, an innovative new version of the 1964 minimalist classic. It was originally recorded in Bamako after the Islamist takeover of much of Mali in 2013, then released on album and premiered at Tate Modern. Riley himself says In C Mali sounds ‘as if the music is coming home’. This live performance will be conducted by André de Ridder, including koras, n’goni and balafons alongside vocals and a DJ. In line with Riley’s instructions, the live performance is unplanned. Each musician chooses how often they repeat the 53 short phrases which make up the piece, creating an irrepressible musical kaleidoscope.

Africa Express – a collective of African and Western musicians – brings together artists from different cultures, genres and generations for exceptional collaborative events. They will perform Africa Express presents…Terry Riley’s In C Mali, an innovative new version of the 1964 minimalist classic. It was originally recorded in Bamako after the Islamist takeover of much of Mali in 2013, then released on album and premiered at Tate Modern. Riley himself says In C Mali sounds ‘as if the music is coming home’. This live performance will be conducted by André de Ridder, including koras, n’goni and balafons alongside vocals and a DJ. In line with Riley’s instructions, the live performance is unplanned. Each musician chooses how often they repeat the 53 short phrases which make up the piece, creating an irrepressible musical kaleidoscope.

Terry Riley (1935)

In C (1964)

 

Six concerts by world class artists in one day at the Concertgebouw, standing tickets for only 10 euros per concert, seating on the balconies and the stage. That is the Holland Festival Proms, the concerts held on the festival’s final weekend, hosted by Thomas van Luyn. Throughout the afternoon and evening, ensembles ranging from the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra to American singer-songwriter Ben Folds with yMusic, and from the Kronos Quartet to a Moroccan Gnawa ensemble will perform on stage. Opening with a family concert from the Netherlands, the programme will journey through different genres round the world to conclude with a Malian version by Terry Riley’s minimal masterpiece In C. And if you still can’t get enough, you can join our festive afterparty.

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information

  • Duration of performance unknown (geen pauze)

Africa Express presents… Terry Riley’s In C Mali

In January 2015, to mark the 50th anniversary of Terry Riley's pioneering masterpiece In C, Africa Express released the first African version of the minimalist classic titled Africa Express presents… Terry Riley's In C Mali (Transgressive Records).

Africa Express presents… Terry Riley’s In C Mali

In January 2015, to mark the 50th anniversary of Terry Riley's pioneering masterpiece In C, Africa Express released the first African version of the minimalist classic titled Africa Express presents… Terry Riley's In C Mali (Transgressive Records).

This new version was recorded at the Maison des Jeunes youth club in Bamako, Mali in 2013, led by contemporary conductor André de Ridder. The album features the cream of new artists from Bamako, among them Adama Koita, Bijou, Cheick Diallo and Modibo Diawara alongside Africa Express stalwarts Damon Albarn, Brian Eno, Jeff Wootton and Nick Zinner. Co-produced and mixed by Andi Toma (Mouse on Mars), the album release followed a rare performance of the piece, presented by Africa Express and Tate Modern, on the Bridge of the Turbine Gallery at Tate Modern. The event was recorded for an interactive film linking minimalist art and music featuring the live performance of the work, intercut with iconic minimalist works from the Tate Collection.

 

Terry Riley’s In C is often cited as the first Minimalist composition and continues to receive numerous performances around the world every year from musicians of all standards and musical backgrounds – from classical to rock to jazz to non-Western. The various recordings made over the years reflect the all-encompassing nature of the work. Terry Riley celebrated his 80th Birthday in 2015 and he continues to be an active composer. On 4th November 2014, exactly 50 years to the day from the world premiere of In C, the composer said: ‘I am overwhelmed and delighted by this CD. I was not quite prepared for such an incredible journey, hearing the soul of Africa in joyous flight over those 53 patterns of In C. This ensemble feeds the piece with ancient threads of musical wisdom and humanity indicating to me that this work is a vessel ready to receive and be shaped by the spontaneous feelings and colours of the magician/musician. I could not ask for a greater gift for this daughter’s 50th birthday.’

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credits

music Terry Riley conductor André de Ridder production Africa Express

This performance is made possible by