I am so grateful and honored to be featured this year as one of the Cedar Cultural Center’s 2022 Cedar Commission artists. This Friday, I will be performing Nkovu Wa Xivavu, which means “A Celebration of Pain” on the Cedar’s stage at around 8:30PM, between two other amazing artists who are also commissioned artists for the evening. This all-original, new work has never been performed before and I am so eager to share this music with the world.
From top to bottom: Kora, Inanga, and Xitende.
My collaborators on this project include:
- Mikaela Marget, Cello
- Jason Burak, Cello
- Svetlana Davis, Viola
- Karin Valdizan, Violin
Practicing during the Pandemic was a significant challenge. After I worked for several months composing the work, we gathered in pairs and practiced for a month one-on-one at my home before eventually coming together for our final two weeks of group rehearsals all together.
Rehearsal with Karin Valdizan.
The songs we will be performing include:
- Sinyanguena (I’ve Arrived)
- Pfulani ti Dleve (Open Your Ears)
- Xlhokonono (Oppression)
- Kokandindasse (The Press-Wheel Roller)
- Ubuntu (Come Together)
The Cedar Cultural Center has published a news article today featuring an interview I gave about Friday’s performance of Nkovu Wa Xivavu. You can read it in full here:
Buy your tickets to the show on EventBrite here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-cedar-commissions-night-one-carlisle-peck-nyttu-chongo-maddie-thies-tickets-228046662707
by NyttuChongo
