Co-presented with Le Vivier.
A concert dedicated to music from the Netherlands, featuring works spanning 60 years of percussion composition, including pieces by two Canadian composers with ties to the Netherlands. Composers: Simeon Ten Holt (1923–2012), Arnold Marinissen (born 1966), Trevor Grahl, Sarah Neutkens, Celia Swart, Edward Top.
Organized by the Percussive Arts Society of Quebec
Sixtrum Percussion Ensemble will perform the piece Iron Velvet (2017) by Dutch composer Arnold Marinissen, during the gala concert of Quebec Day of Percussion.
“Iron Velvet for percussion sextet was written in memory of Jan Pustjens, who passed away on 7 January 2011. The work was commissioned by the Jan Pustjens Foundation, which continues Jan Pustjens’ legacy by supporting talented percussionists. Jan Pustjens was one of the most influential percussionists in the Netherlands, active as a performer (Royal Concertgebouw), teacher (Amsterdam Conservatory), and entrepreneur (Pustjens Percussion).” – Arnold Marinissen.
A family drama plunged into the center of a violent era, greedy for honors, thirsty for individual freedom and cultural domination. Four characters from the same family play out this tragedy about descent, inheritance and the weight of origins. How to free ourselves from the past while respecting our own freedom and collective responsibilities.
Composer, conductor and artistic director of Temps Fort, Pascal Germain-Bérardi is responsible for the conception and creation of Basileus, an oratorio in four acts based on a libretto by Sébastien Johnson. Staged by Collectif Tôle, this ambitious work features some 50 Quebec artists, including four soloists, Sixtrum Percussion Ensemble, guitar ensemble Forestare, brass ensemble Horizon and the Growler’s Choir of metal screamers.
Basileus was awarded the Opus Prize for the “Musical Event of the Year” from the Conseil québécois de la musique in 2025.
Agora de la Danse, co-presented with Le Vivier.
Under the direction of Charles-Eric Fontaine, this concert featuring eleven artists, comes from a proposal by emerging composer Francis Battah, who has written a piece for Sixtrum and four keyboardists. The latter will use a system of microtonal scales and synthesizers developed by Battah. A creation by composer Geneviève Ackerman will use the same instrumental setup.
The program will be rounded out by the Canadian premiere of a recent musical composition by Trevor Grahl, Filotaxia, for marimbas and two organs (played via MIDI keyboard) tuned to slightly different temperaments.
