MAS ALLA
MUSIC FOR INDIGENOUS INSTRUMENTS OF MEXICO AND WOODWIND QUINTET In 2011 Christopher premiered several compositions for indigenous percussion and wind instruments and woodwind quintet with QUINTETO LATINO. This marks the first time that music featuring indigenous instruments has been composed by and for an indigenous instrumentalist, composer, improviser and woodwind quintet. In the past, composers would utilize an indigenous instrument for an orchestral percussionist to play, who had never played the instrument before. The musician not realizing that the musicians who play their indigenous instruments also have a lifetime of developing a sound on them as well a way of playing them as do their western counterpart. The indigenous instruments do not respond the same way that western instruments do and many of the musical practices are actually inverted........... The quintet was called upon to play atecocollis, ayacaxtlis, improvise, and set up and perform in a non conventional way Performances were held throughout California in 2012 and 2013 including: Latin American Chamber Music Festival Old First Church San Francisco, CA USA https://www.sfcv.org/reviews/old-first-concerts/culture-chamber-of-latin-beats The Carmen Castellano Fine Arts Center San Jose State University San Jose, CA USA La Peña Cultural Center Berkeley CA, USA Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana (MACLA) San Jose, CA USA Oakland School for the Arts Oaklana, CA USA REVIEWS "Percussionist Chris Garcia nearly stole the show with his musical antics, beating on the cajon with a bare ankle, slapping cymbals with his hands, sending chipped bits of his mallets flying into the air, and even slapping his own cheeks as a percussion instrument." SAN FRANCISCO CLASSICAL VOICE https://www.sfcv.org/reviews/old-first-concerts/culture-chamber-of-latin-beats "Christopher Garcia, plays indigenous instruments such as turtle shells and clay flutes in the production of LA VIRGEN DE GUADALUPE, DIOS INANTZIN........The East L.A. native travels the world with different ensembles but clears his calendar each December to take part in the cathedral's annual presentation." LOS ANGELES TIMES "We’re most grateful to our good friend - and superb musician - Christopher García, a Los Angeles based percussionist who plays MEXICA percussion instruments in various settings e.g., traditional, symphonic and world musics, and a keen historian.....not only a highly talented and creative musician but a studious researcher on the indigenous music of Mexico. Christopher García gives a virtuoso solo performance on pre-Hispanic musical instruments…........ MEXICOLORE "Quinteto Latino’s collaboration was a very special event for us. From playing conch shells in the opening ceremony, to performing surrounded by the sounds of ancient percussion, our collaboration was amazing......and the music that resulted from our collaboration was very moving. We were all surprised by the audience’s immediate, visceral reaction. This music really touched people. The whole experience was fantastic and we look forward to further collaborations!" QUINTETO LATINO |