July 12th at 10 pm, St. John’s church (Jaani Street 5, Tartu)

Glasperlenspiel Music Festival

NORDIC JOURNEY

James D. Hicks (USA), organ. Zellbell, Gade, Isolfsson, Ore, Willscher, Leifs, Mikkelsen, Karlsen, Sixten, Vähi, Sundberg.

Combining ethnic traditions with new music is intriguing and interesting for a composer. And so, Peeter Vähi’s oeuvre includes melodies, rhythmic patterns and exotic sounds from the music of India, Tibet, Japan, as well as African and European folk traditions. Having been commissioned by James D. Hicks to compose the work for the organ with the use of Estonian folk tunes in it was another opportunity for the composer to continue moving on the aforementioned path. The work contains motives from folk songs Midrilinnumäng, Äia-päia, lase kiiga käia and Children, Let’s Sing Kindly. All of these songs were written down in Saaremaa, where Peeter Vähi spends a lot of time in his country retreat.

James Hicks lives and works out of Califon, NJ, USA, and holds degrees in music from the Peabody Institute of Music, Yale University, and the University of Cincinnati. Other studies include instruction at the Royal School of Church Music in England, and he is an Associate of the American Guild of Organists.

Detailed info: www.klaasparlimang.com