Join pianist Tomoko Mukaiyama in celebrating the illustrious beginning of Spring at The Merchant House in the heart of Amsterdam. On March 29th & 30th, the gallery space will host of Sound and Song 3, a program of music in an intimate setting. The Dutch-Ukrainian composer Maxim Shalygin is the spotlighted composer this Spring. Tomoko will be performing his intriguing 9 Preludes. Maxim wrote in his program note: ‘’The Cycle 9 Preludes for piano is a very dear work for me, in which I first felt the subtle facets of deep sensuality, joy, love, and sadness. This is a cycle of musical monodrama for one pianist, where memories and illusions cover each other, mix and leave a varied aftertaste. The 9 preludes for piano are perhaps the first large-scale work in which I managed to find the subtle connections inside musical matter that invite the listener to move inward. Everything in the preludes is aimed at gradual immersion, avoiding the use of external effects. This intimate and dark atmosphere allowed me to become one with myself without the distraction of external factors. This is what I wish for the listeners as well; sometimes the music is so quiet that we start to hear our own breath..” 

Also on the program a piece by the American composer Charlemagne Palestine, one of the founders of the New York school of minimalist music.

Programme:
Charlemagne Palestine – Strumming Music (2009)
Maxim Shalygin – 9 Preludes (2005)