DESCRIPTION:
VF Artist Denis Petrunin performs "Mirrors of Emptiness" for marimba and digital delay by Grigory Smirnov!

This piece is available for purchase at:
http://editionsvitzer.com/catalog/mirrors-of-emptiness/c-23/p-267

Vic Firth Performance Page:
http://vicfirth.com/mirrors-of-emptiness-by-grigory-smirnov/

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MALLETS:

Robert Van Sice Signature Series
http://vicfirth.com/robert-van-sice/

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ABOUT THE PIECE:

I wrote Mirrors of Emptiness by request from the Danish music publisher Edition Svitzer in 2008. Seeking a way to expand the expression of marimba sound and technique without adding extra instruments, I used the electronic effect of stereo delay (echo) which produces reflections of sound, very much like a mirror produces reflections of light. Sound of marimba reminded me of something empty: marimba actually uses a physical emptiness for the acoustic resonance. These suggested the title of the piece. I thought about how emptiness can produce some illusion of ‘fullness’ just through numerous reflections of itself. In the same way some of our ‘empty’ thoughts or ideas multiplied by reflections and repetitions may produce an entire ‘empty’ reality. Starting from a “heartbeat-like” motive in the beginning of the piece, the music develops into a large multi-sectional composition. On a technical side, the performance of Mirrors of Emptiness requires a microphone or two, a digital audio processor or software for the stereo delay effect, and a pair of speakers on the stage.

- Grigory Smirnov

"I instantly fell in love with Mirrors of Emptiness when I have heard it for the first time - it was absolutely striking.

The way Grigory uses digital delay in this piece takes the sound of marimba to a different level.

I strongly believe, that Mirrors of Emptiness is one of the masterpieces which enriches our repertoire and allows the listener to perceive marimba from a completely different perspective."

- Denis Petrunin

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ABOUT THE PERFORMER:

Mr. Petrunin's percussive activity covers solo, chamber, and orchestra areas.

He has appeared at Carnegie, Avery Fisher, and other prestigious concert halls in the United States, Russia, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, England, Holland and Spain.

Coming from Moscow, Russia, Denis has been playing music since the age of five. He started his education at The Gnessins School of Music (guided by his father, George Petrunin), received his Bachelor degree from The Curtis Institute of Music under the guidance of Don Liuzzi and Michael Bookspan, completed his Artist Diploma and Master of Music degree at the Yale University School of Music under the instruction of Prof. Robert van Sice.

Full bio here: http://vicfirth.com/mirrors-of-emptiness-by-grigory-smirnov/

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ABOUT THE COMPOSER:

A native of Siberia, Russia, Grigory Smirnov is a composer and pianist living in New York.

His compositions have been performed around the globe in major venues, such as Lincoln Center, Tanglewood, Merkin Concert Hall, Moscow Philharmonic Society and The Copenhagen Opera House. Among his recent works is a large-scale song cycle Dowson Songs, commissioned by The ASCAP Foundation, premiered at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Music Center in New York and released on a CD by Naxos Records. Grigory Smirnov's music has been featured on WQXR, America's leading classical music radio station, and in a number of festivals worldwide, including Tanglewood Music Center (MA, USA), Brevard Music Center (NC, USA), ppIANISSIMO (Sofia, Bulgaria), Chamber Music Sessions (Kiev, Ukraine), CTAM Festival (Moscow, Russia), Blue Lake Summer Arts Festival (MI, USA). He was a Tanglewood Music Center Fellow and has taught at Rutgers University.

Full bio here: http://vicfirth.com/mirrors-of-emptiness-by-grigory-smirnov/

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