Vera Ivanova,
composer
'...internationally recognized as an emerging artist of great talent.'
Home
News
Performances
Works
CV & Bio
Scores
CDs
Photos
Newsletter
Contact
Mbira (In Cage with Adams)
2012
Mbira (or In Cage with Adams) was composed in 2012 for the pianist Aron Kallay, the first performer of the piece.
Program Notes:
Mbira (or In Cage with Adams) was composed in 2012 for the pianist Aron Kallay, the first performer of the piece. It was inspired by the subtle resonance of the traditional African percussion instrument, mbira, and by the piano music of the two great American composers, two Johns - John Cage and John Adams.
The reference to the instrument mbira is in the use of limited piano range (only treble clef is used in the piece) and selected number of repeated pitches (30 pitches), based on pentatonic scales, and also in microtonal retuning of each of the pitches sounding in the piece (by 5-35 cents).
The piece is meditative in character and uses minimalistic techniques, recycling the same pitches in different order, until it gradually comes to its natural end, like a burning candle.
The reference to the instrument mbira is in the use of limited piano range (only treble clef is used in the piece) and selected number of repeated pitches (30 pitches), based on pentatonic scales, and also in microtonal retuning of each of the pitches sounding in the piece (by 5-35 cents).
The piece is meditative in character and uses minimalistic techniques, recycling the same pitches in different order, until it gradually comes to its natural end, like a burning candle.
- Instrumentation
- for piano (with optional retuning)
- Duration
- c. 3-4 minutes
- Premiere
- June 23, 2012, 2012 Microfest Rad! Festival
Performances:
April 13th, 2024
Mbira (In Cage with Adams) (2012) - Aron Kallay
Collage: A Place for Art & Culture (San Pedro, CA)
This performance is a part of Aron Kallay's The Blur of Time & Memory: Alternate Tuning program.
April 9th, 2024
Mbira (In Cage with Adams) (2012) - Aron Kallay
2220 Arts and Archives (Los Angeles, CA)
This performance is a part of Piano Spheres concert series featuring Aron Kallay's recital "Alternate Tunings. Past. Future. Perfect. Imperfect."
March 21st, 2018
Mbira (In Cage with Adams) (2012) - Aron Kallay
Santa Monica Public Library (Santa Monica)
Aron Kallay's recital, featuring selections from his "Beyond 12" series of commissioned pieces for retuned and remapped keyboards, is a part of "Soundwaves New Music at the Santa Monica Public Library"series. Free admission.
September 12th, 2015
Mbira (In Cage with Adams) (2012) - Aron Kallay
LACC (Los Angeles, CA)
This performance is a part of the Synchromy segment at the American Composers Forum, Los Angeles Chapter marathon concert at Los Angeles City College.
February 12th, 2015
Mbira (In Cage with Adams) (2012) - Mark Robson
"Acclaimed Los Angeles pianist Mark Robson gives a guest piano recital presenting the music of well-known living composers Mark-Anthony Turnage, Augusta Read Thomas, Philippe Bodin and Beat Furrer, along with the music by local SoCal composers Daniel Rothman, Nick Norton, Mark Robson, and Chapman University’s music composition faculty Sean Heim and Vera Ivanova.
January 6th, 2015
Mbira (In Cage with Adams) (2012) - Mark Robson
Zipper Hall, The Colburn School (Los Angeles, CA)
This performance is part of 2015-16 Piano Spheres Piano Spheres season.
October 6th, 2012
Mbira (In Cage with Adams) (2012) - Aron Kallay
The Spectrum New Music Space (New York, NY)
Aron Kallay's Beyond Twelve tour
October 5th, 2012
Mbira (In Cage with Adams) (2012) - Aron Kallay
Bard College (Annandale, NY)
Aron Kallay's Beyond Twelve tour
October 4th, 2012
Mbira (In Cage with Adams) (2012) - Aron Kallay
Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA)
Aron Kallay's Beyond Twelve tour
October 3rd, 2012
Mbira (In Cage with Adams) (2012) - Aron Kallay
Hartt School of Music (Hartford, CT)
Aron Kallay's Beyond Twelve tour
September 30th, 2012
Mbira (In Cage with Adams) (2012) - Aron Kallay
Fishers Public Library (Fishers, IN)
Aron Kallay's Beyond Twelve tour
September 29th, 2012
Mbira (In Cage with Adams) (2012) - Aron Kallay
SoDo Art Gallery (Champaign, IL)
Aron Kallay's Beyond Twelve tour
September 28th, 2012
Mbira (In Cage with Adams) (2012) - Aron Kallay
Heaven Gallery (Chicago, IL)
Aron Kallay's Beyond Twelve tour
September 15th, 2012
Mbira (In Cage with Adams) (2012) - Aron Kallay
UC Riverside, Culver Center of the Arts (Riverside, CA)
Aron Kallay's Beyond Twelve tour.
June 23rd, 2012
Mbira (In Cage with Adams) (2012) - Aron Kallay
Beyond Baroque (Venice, CA)
From the MicroFest 2012, Beyond Twelve / The Re-Imagined Piano concert.