2nd Movement - Concerto for Piano & Kora by Alex Wilson

www.koraconcerto.com This is an exciting performance of a new work specially commissioned by Harrogate International Festival. Artist in Residence Alex Wilson will present a suite of compositions written for kora (an African harp that dates back to the 14th century Mandé Empire), piano and string quartet. The music is the latest chapter in an exploration of Malian music that Alex embarked on in 2004 when he met kora player Madou Sidiki Diabaté. Together with a third musician Ahmed Fofana they went on to create the Mali Latino project, commissioned by Aldeburgh Music.

This new work is the next stage in the musical journey -- Alex takes the Mandé musical traditions from Mali and fuses them with Western classical and jazz elements. As well as witnessing the world premiere on Monday, a Sunday open rehearsal provides a unique opportunity to witness the music come to life.

As a composer and musical director, Alex has written a theatre score for Britain's leading black theatre company NITRO and commissions for the Royal Opera House and the Society for the Promotion of New Music. He has worked as a record producer for various artists, most recently Gwyn Allen in I Love Louis -- A Creole Tribute to Louis Armstrong.

Category:

Music

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• harrogate
• festival
• alex
• wilson
• seckou
• keita
• jenny
• adejayan
• mandy
• drummond
• gill
• morley
• ellen
• blair
• mali
• kora
• piano
• classical
• senegal