10/09/2018
Bachovich Gyil Concerti performed by Valerie Naranjo with the National Symphony of Ghana
On Saturday evening August 18th, The National Symphony of Ghana celebrated the 25th anniversary of the inauguration of its National Theatre - on the National Theatre Main Stage - with a special concert entitled “Tiera Pura” (spelled the West African way) of Ghanian works for orchestra. Central to the concert were four concerto movements for Gyil and Orchestra, published by Bachovich, with soloist Valerie Naranjo. The orchestrations for these works build upon traditional and contemporary pieces for gyil, and demonstrate the deep connection between traditional West African harmony and form, and that of American popular music. The movements performed: Fer Barre Kona Jeno (Don’t Play Favorites); Gmeng Se Naa Eee (What Shall We Do) , and Tierra Pura movement IV, the concert’s namesake (orch. Beall); and Fumaa Bwiche Naamwin Je (You and I will Go) (orch. L. Leon Pendarvis of Blues Brothers and Saturday Night Live)
Valerie Naranjo wrote Tierra Pura I-V (a work for gyil, Cuban percussion ensemble, and vocal quartet) in 2017 to honor The city Santiago de Cuba. She and Barry Olsen were traveling Cuba as part of New York University’s Global Institute for Advanced Studies project “Translucent Borders”, an initiative spearheaded by NYU Tisch’s Dr. Andrew Teirstein to explore and elucidate the dynamic of music and dance at borders. Tierra Pura IV was orchestrated for Translucent Border’s workshops with Ghana’s National Symphony during the “Borders’ " second journey to Ghana in 2017.
The concert’s title was taken from “Tierra Pura movement IV” The original Tierra Pura's entire 5 movement suite was premiered by Valerie and the music/dance company “Cutumba” (Idalberto Sido, director) with NYU Tisch dance professor James Martin choreographing, at The Fidanze Festival in Santiago on April 28, 2017. This was yet another Translucent Borders’ event. Valerie has performed movements of “Tierra Pura" with various ensembles at the “Young Indians” Festival in New Delhi; the Mandl Festival in Chennai, India; the "Cuba Disco” Festival in Havannah; and at North Florida State University (Dr. Andrea Venet, percussion director).
Other concerto movements have been performed by the CSO Orchestra (Lisa Grossman, conductor), The Oklahoma Art Institute Chamber Orchestra (Jeff Grogan, conductor); and twice with The Enid Symphony Orchestra (Douglas Newell, conductor). Wind Ensemble Arrangements of Fer Barre Kona Jeno, Gmeng Se Naa Eee, and Tierra Pura movement IV, have been performed and recorded by the SUNY Fredonia Wind Ensemble (Dr. Paula Holcombe, Director of Bands).