Duo FourIVTwo

Duo FourIVTwo features Magda de Vries on concert grand marimba and Frank Mallows on vibraphone. Each being master of his instrument, Frank and Magda formed Duo FourIVTwo in 2003.

Frank holds a MMus degree from UCT and studied with Ed Saindon at Berklee College of Music (USA). Frank plays on a Musser gold bar vibraphone. Magda obtained a Postgraduate Diploma with cum laude from the Tokyo College of Music (Japan) where she studied under Professor Atsushi Sugahara. She won most of the National Music Competitions in South Africa, and also was winner of the Performing Australian International Competition in London (UK). Magda plays on a custom-made concert grand Marimba One marimba.

The duo has performed with great success at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival; the Cape Town Concert Series in the Baxter Concert Hall; the Aardklop Festival (Potchefstroom); Northwards House (Johannesburg); Baroque in the Bush in the Kruger National Park; the Franschoek Festival; ZK Matthews Auditorium at UNISA as well as the Enoch Sontonga Conference Hall at UNISA.

They are featured on the CD Myths, Magic and Marimbas which celebrated Peter Klatzow’s 60th birthday.

In 2011 they commissioned and premiered 5 South African compositions and in 2012 they commissioned and premiered 5 South African compositions. Duo FourIVTwo is very passionate about performing South African compositions and in 2013 they will perform the World Premiere of Peter Klatzow’s double concerto for marimba and vibraphone, composed for them.

Expect informative performances of visual spectacle and rich, rhythmic sonorous sensations.  

duofour4two@magdadevries.co.za

Ritual

Rituals are found in our everyday lives, but is also traditionally found in purifications, rights of passage and celebrations of significant life events. The term 'ritual' also indicates formalism, traditionalism, rule-governance and performance - all of which are found in the practice of classical music.

Celebrated South African performers Magdalene Minnaar and Magda de Vries are both musical rookies who constantly strive towards creating new performance styles, challenging both their art-form and their artistry. They have commissioned eight South African composers to write new works for marimba/percussion and soprano on the theme of 'rituals'. The theme was open for interpretation by the composer, and he/she may choose the text and instrumentation. These new works are performed alongside existing pieces by established local composers (both living and deceased), spanning over a century of indigenous history. By commissioning these works they are creating a wealth of new works to benefit the ever-growing legacy of original South African music.

The audience will form part of the ritual, influencing the order of the programme by drawing numbers during the performance.

www.magdaleneminnaar.com

Acoustic Moodz

Acoustic Moodz was co-founded in 2005 by Magdalena de Vries. The band combines marimba, guitar and percussion to create gentle yet vibrant atmosphere for background music. The band regularly performs at corporate functions at weddings in and around Gauteng. In 2011 they were nominated for a SABIA award in the category of best entertainment supplier.

acousticmoodz@magdadevries.co.za

Magdalena & Anneke Lamont

The modern day concert marimba can be regarded as a very versatile instrument.  The range of dynamic and tone colours stretch from the primal African origin of the instrument to the passionate melodic lines of romanticism.

The piano is in essence also a percussion instrument. The combination of the keys played by mallets and by fingers, creates a magical body of sound. The sound of the age-old harpsichord dances lightly to blend with the bright tone of especially the high register of the marimba. And the majestic presence of the organ carries the marimba into a new realm.

Anneke Lamont skilfully performs on the 3 well-known western keyboard instruments (piano, harpsichord, organ) and accompanies Magdalena with musical grace. The duo regularly performs across the country, with forthcoming performances at the Innibos and Vryfees national arts festivals.