The International Marimba and Vibraphone ‘Vibraciones’ Music Festival in Lima, Peru

Alonso Acosta and Amie Watson (Duo Mestizaje) ad for Vibraciones International Marimba and Vibrahone Festival

The International Vibraphone and Marimba “Vibrations” music festival ended last week here in Lima, Peru. After a week of master classes, lessons and concerts the participating students and teachers all went home, all except me. I’m still in Lima to teach more lessons and plan the future of my duo with Maestro Alonso Acosta of the National Conservatory of Lima.

“Duo Mestizaje” premiered this January in Lima with a program of Canadian and Peruvian folksongs for marimba, vibraphone and cajòn. The word ‘Mestizaje’ means a mix – in this case a mix of the cultures and music of Peru and Canada. With help from LOJIQ in Quebec, I was able to come to Peru for our debut performance entitled “Del Norte al Sur” (From the north to the south) featuring arrangements of “À la Claire Fontaine” (arr. Amie Watson), “Petty Harbour Bait Skiff” (arr. Theo Mathein), “Cardo o Ceniza”, “Valicha”, and “Zapateo” (arr. Alonso Acosta).

Cardo y Ceniza, Alonso Acosta – marimba, Amie Watson – marimba/cajòn

Some of the other great performers at the festival included Memmi Ochi from Seattle (originally of Japan), Ted Piltzecker of New York, Euclides Marques and André Juarez of Brazil, Chak Duo from Chile, Lleni Lopez of Mexico, and Nilda Quispe Angulo of Peru.

Alonso and I played our duo concert at both ICPNA and the Japanese-Peruvian cultural Centre and received a great audience response at both. I also collaborated with Nilda and Lleni on a vals for marimba and a grand finale arrangement for all the performers of “El Condor Pasa,” the well-known Peruvian folksong.

El Condor Pasa – Wait for the Huayno section at the end.

Here’s my bio from the event, a newspaper clipping, and a photo of Alonso and me playing “Valicha” for marimba and cajon.

And as true musicians, we celebrated with an inexpensive bottle of sparkling wine in the dressing room after the show.

Thanks to Robin Engelman and Bill Cahn for their donations of music, mallets and CDs for the students participating in the festival. It’s very difficult toget these materials here because of shipping and cost. The students were all very excited and touched by the kindness of the two great percussionists and caring people.

I should have a recording of the concerts within a few months and I’ll have pictures from my marimba “expression” masterclass soon. So I’ll add those to this post as I receive them.

Thanks to all the teachers, students and organizers for making this festival possible. To my duo partner, Alonso, to Mauro and Juan for moving tons of gear on little sleep without a single complaint, and to the students who just maybe were a little inspired to make more music. Here’s to wonderful cultural mixes and many future musical collaborations.