Delia Stevens performs Avner Dorman's Percussion Concerto 'Frozen in Time' - mvt i - IndoAfrica

21-year old Delia Stevens from the UK, winner of the Royal Northern College of Music Concerto Competition, performs Avner Dorman's percussion concerto 'Frozen in Time' movement i: IndoAfrica with RNCM Symphony Orchestra conducted by Junior Fellow, Carlos del Cueto. The title Frozen in Time refers to imaginary snapshots of the Earth's geological development from prehistoric times to the present day. Although we cannot be sure what the Earth looked like millions of years ago, most scientists agree that the separate continents used to be one mega-continent (as most agree that mankind descended from one prehistoric womb). Each movement imagines the music of a large prehistoric continent at a certain point in time: I. Indoafrica: The piece opens with a grand gesture, like an avalanche, that is followed by a "time freeze." The main theme of the first movement is based on South Indian rhythm cycles (Tālas) and scales. The range of the theme is gradually expanded like a spiral, as it would in classical Indian improvisation. The second theme is based on the inner rhythm of the Tāla, which is also found in some traditions of West-African music. As the solo percussionist starts playing the theme on the Marimba and the Cencerros (a keyboard of cowbells), it becomes more similar to Gamelan music of Southeast Asia. The soloist then returns to the drum-set and takes the music back to it African origins building the movement up to an ecstatic culmination. At this point, the opening avalanche returns as a burst of emotions rather than a natural phenomenon. After a short cadenza, the movement wraps up with a fugue that recaps the themes of the opening section