Third Coast Percussion. Live in Concert

On Sunday, September 21, one of the most notable percussion ensembles of this century, the Grammy Award-winning Third Coast Percussion from Chicago, USA, will perform for the first time in Latvia at the Hanzas Perons cultural venue.

This is not the first time that and award-winning, internationally recognised, adored by audience musical group performs for Latvian audiences, but one thing is still an immutable fact: Third Coast Percussion is the first percussion ensemble to receive the prestigious GRAMMY Award in one of the categories dedicated to classical music. The award-winning quartet, consisting of musicians Sean Connors, Robert Dillon, Peter Martin and David Skidmore, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and will be welcomed by Hanzas Perons with their first concert in Latvia this autumn.

Over the course of its twenty years, TCP, alongside ensembles such as Sō Percussion, Slagwerk Den Haag, Les Percussions de Strasbourg, and possibly a few others, has set the standard for percussion music so high that it is difficult to imagine how else to describe these musicians to the uninitiated in any otherway than as ‘challenging percussionists,’ ‘always surprising,’ ‘exceptionally powerful,’ and other such phrases. We might also add ‘tireless’ and ‘inspiring others with their sense of humour and curiosity,’ because in two decades they have released 30 recordings, toured 41 of the 50 US states and a dozen countries on four continents – although Latvia has been left out so far. Until now.

Their curiosity, perhaps even nosiness, and eclectic taste have led the quartet down the most unimaginable paths to the most unique collaborations with other artists. This would not have been possible if the four as musicians, as well as being striking personalities, were not also experienced teachers and curators of various educational programmes, ‘infecting’ both young and old with their enthusiasm for music.

‘In classical music, many try to pretend that the performer’s role is to find an approach to the composer’s intention as something static and predetermined. It doesn’t matter whether it's a well-known piece, a premiere of a commissioned work, or an unprecedented arrangement. In reality, the very act of performing requires the performer to embody a unique set of notes and infuse them with emotions and reactions that can only be gained through experience. In this way, performers become co-authors of the musical work, regardless of whether it is from the establishedcanon or a world premiere. Few ensembles embody this ability as clearly as Third Coast Percussion,’ wrote the San Francisco Classical Voice after one of their concerts, and it is hard to disagree.

‘With recordings such as Perspectives, the quartet continues to explore new territories for percussion instruments, breaking down boundaries in music and captivating new audiences,’ adds Tom Huizenga of NPR Music.

Prices will increase as the concert date approaches.

Doors open from 17.00.

In proud partnership with: Konventa Sēta Hotel & Pillar.lv