Gideon Alorwoyie and his ensemble are joined by the American group Mantra Percussion during the finale of this year’s Sacrum Profanum, held on 1 October at the ICE Kraków Congress Centre.

Gideon Alorwoyie, professor of music, high priest of the Yewe Cult, paramount chief of the Volta Region in Ghana and one of Steve Reich’s teachers, makes his debut at this year’s Sacrum Profanum Festival. “During the festival finale, we will hear a repertoire reflecting the influence of African music on the Minimalist movement in the US. Kraków is honoured to welcome the Ghanaian virtuoso of percussion, professor of music at the University of North Texas and inspirational driver of change in contemporary music,” says festival curator Krzysztof Pietraszewski.Alorwoyie is joined by his ensemble and the American group Mantra Percussion, specialising on contemporary music, on 1 October. Their repertoire includes Steve Reich’s Drumming, presented in the context of traditional African music which was also its inspiration.

The programme of African American music, generously seasoned with Minimalism, was originally prepared by the musicians for Steve Reich’s 80th birthday celebrations last year. The works recall 1970 which marked a breakthrough in the composer’s inspirations: during a stay in Ghana, Reich studied with Alorwoyie and learned about local music techniques and polyrhythms, which he went on to implement in his own works. Drumming was the first composition he completed after his return from Africa; we will hear it in an expanded interpretation, intertwining elements of traditional African music. The concert African Repercussions introduces listeners to how African culture inspired Reich to make the extraordinary transformation in his work and music, eventually reaching far beyond Reich’s own body of work and even all of American Minimalism. Hearing his compositions performed on original African instruments, accompanied by traditional dances and put in context of local music, makes the listeners feel like they’ve finally come home.

ATTENTION!

Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances, the concert In C Mali by Africa Express, originally scheduled as part of the Sacrum Profanum Festival, has been cancelled.

African Repercussion is held at 8pm on 1 October. The programme features traditional African music and Steve Reich’s Four Organs, Drumming Part One and Music for Pieces of Wood (arr. David Cossin) performed by Gideon Alorwoyie, Gideon Alorwoyie African Ensemble and Mantra Percussion.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please note the following changes to the Sacrum Profanum programme:

- The concert Romanian Spectralism (30 September) will now start at the later time of 8pm, rather than 6pm as announced previously.
- The concert Post Indie Classical (30 September) will now start at 6pm.
- For technical reasons, the concert Meditations (1 October) will now start at 1pm.

PLEASE NOTE!

If you would like to return your tickets for the concert Africa Express in C Mali, replaced in the Sacrum Profanum programme by the concert African Repercussions, please visit the office where you made the purchase. You will need to present your tickets and sales receipt, and to complete and sign a return form. You can apply for a refund until 7pm on 1 October 2017. Tickets for Africa Express in C Mali entitle ticket holders to attend the concert Afrykańskie reperkusje.