The Marassa Duo (James Armstrong and Nicholas Papador) completed a number of performances and events in the greater Toronto area and the Niagara region.  On March 1, the group performed at Governor Simcoe Secondary School (Mike Phelen with Devon Fornelli, hosts) for around 500 students, many whom were bussed in from around the Niagara region.  The group performed several of their own compositions while taking time to describe the assortment of percussion instruments used in the concert.

On Friday, March 2, the duo gave a clinic/masterclass at the University of Toronto (Robin Engelman and Russell Hartenberger, hosts).  The group played two signature numbers that best show Marassa Duo’s blending of contemporary chamber music with Afro-Caribbean traditions followed by an in-depth discussion of batá drumming and Santeria as well as describing the group’s compositional process.

Marassa Duo gave a performance/clinic at the Ontario Day of Percussion on March 3 (Bryan Malito, chapter president).  The event took place at York University (Paul Ormandy, host).  The clinic discussed the individual components of the duo’s sound including advanced marimba coordination and the creation of composite batá rhythms performed by a single player.

Marassa Duo would like to thank Vic Firth Inc. as well as the Ontario Percussive Arts Society, and the District School Board Niagara, for their support of these events.

The Marassa Duo have also recently completed a series of dates in New York City and Central New York as a part of the “New Directions in Percussion” Festival.

The events began at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) from February 9 – 11.  On February 9, the duo was a guest presenter for the Cornell Composition Colloquium (Kevin Ernste, Roberto Sierra and Steven Stucky, hosts), where they performed several numbers from their repertoire followed by a discussion of compositional methods, respectful adaptation of traditional musical materials, and guidelines in percussion writing.

On February 10, after masterclasses by fellow “New Directions” artists Loop 2.4.3. (Thomas Kozumplik and Lorne Watson) and Percussia (Ingrid Gordon and Demetrius Spaneas), all three groups convened to rehearse Kevin Ernste’s KATAFALA, a new work for solo marimba, percussion quartet and live electronics.  The following morning’s dress rehearsal of the piece was open to the public as a forum to show the active working relationship between the composer and performers when producing a new work for the premiere performance.  On Sunday, February 11, was the “New Directions” gala concert. Each of the three featured ensembles performed short sets followed by the premiere of KATAFALA, with Ernste operating the live electronics.  Percussia’s set featured guest percussionist Conrad Alexander (Ithaca College, Mansfield University). This concert marked the U.S. premiere of Marassa Duo’s Marassa II.  

“New Directions” next stop was Binghamton, NY for a series of concerts, clinics, and outreach performances (February 12-14).  The events were held primarily at the Helen Foley Theatre in Binghamton High School’s Rod Serling School for the Arts (cue Twilight Zone theme music).  The first class was for the Binghamton HS Percussion Ensemble (Joel Smales, host) and featured Marassa Duo, Loop 2.4.3. and Percussia performing Ingrid Gordon’s own arrangement of the traditional piece Farafina. The ensembles then discussed the structure of the piece and the improvisational nature of the music.  The groups then turned the musical instruments over the students who created a piece on-the-spot in a similar musical style.  

All three ensembles produced original scores and arrangements that while different in musical texture, complimented each other with their use of world, jazz, and pop influences in the chamber music setting.  It is the intention of Marassa Duo, Loop 2.4.3, and Percussia to plan future collaborative projects.  Marassa Duo and Loop 2.4.3. culminated the “New Directions” events with a recital in New York City’s Christ and St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Manhattan near Lincoln Center. 

Following the festival events, Marassa Duo gave a performance/clinic for the percussion department at Ithaca College (Gordon Stout, host).  The group again discussed compositional methods and respectful adaptation of traditional musics, but also discussed musical entrepreneurship and strategies for developing original musical ventures.

Next up for Marassa Duo are upcoming events in Ontario, Canada, including appearances at the University of Toronto and the PAS Ontario Day of Percussion.  The group extends its continued thanks to Vic Firth for their support of these events.