Grachtenfestival: Slagwerkduo Yifan Du & Lucas Jansen

Percussionists Yifan Du and Lucas Jansen present a concert featuring contemporary minimalism and influences from African and Chinese percussion traditions. The duo moves between composed works and improvisation, including Reich's Marimba Phase and their own compositions. In doing so, you discover how rhythm functions as a shared language between cultures. To be seen in Nieuw Land National Park in Lelystad during the Grachtenfestival. Minimalism and world percussion on the marimba The program by Yifan Du and Lucas Jansen revolves around rhythm as a shared language. A central work is Marimba Phase by Steve Reich, originally written for two pianos. The two marimbas repeat the same motif, start synchronously, and gradually move apart. Jansen's own composition for African drums builds upon these minimalist principles. Chinese traditions translated into a contemporary sound In addition to minimalism, the duo also incorporates Chinese musical traditions. An arrangement of the folk song Jasmine Flower gains a new layer through improvisation. Yifan Du adds an original percussion piece based on traditional Chinese percussion movements and gestures. In this way, you hear how ancient traditions live on in contemporary performance practice. Two musicians, also as composer Yifan Du and Lucas Jansen are not only performing musicians but also composers. In this concert, they present their own work alongside existing repertoire. This makes the program personal and versatile.