As the recipient of over 80 international awards and an OBE, there is no negotiating that Dame Evelyn Glennie, who is also profoundly deaf, is a pioneer in her field of solo percussion. But her story goes much deeper than that – as she tells Jo Caruana ahead of her local performance at the Three Palaces Music Festival this month

Listen to the percussion in your favourite song. It’s there – under-pinning everything, providing the rhythm and setting the pace.

Percussion is such an integral aspect of the music we know and love and few people know that better than Scottish-born Dame Evelyn Glennie, who has dedicated her life to it.

In fact, Glennie holds the accolade of the first person in musical history to successfully create and sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist. She is renowned for her eclectic and innovative style, as well as for constantly redefining the goals and expectations of percussion.

But her fascinating story doesn’t end there. For, even though her talents in themselves define her as a world-class artist, Glennie has also been diagnosed as profoundly deaf since the age of 12.

Somewhat astonishingly, this hasn’t held her back at all and she has gone on to surpass so many of her peers – winning a Grammy, securing a spot in the Percussive Arts Society’s Hall of Fame, and playing at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games in 2012.

“It is really hard to pick a career highlight so far,” she says as we chat about her upcoming performance in Malta. “I guess it is the diversity of it all that has made things so interesting.

“For instance, it was wonderful to debut two concertos of mine at one concert in Switzerland with an outstanding orchestra. It was so special to create two new works with such amazing musicians.

“Of course, playing at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics was also pretty extraordinary, but it’s hard to compare the two experiences – or any of my experiences for that matter – as they have all been so different.

My life has been about finding new ways to listen and teaching the world about that too

“Whether I am opening a new music building for a school or giving a performance to thousands of people, it is the reactions that make each opportunity a memory to treasure.”

Now, Glennie is very much looking forward to her upcoming performance in Malta, which will form part of the second edition of the Three Palaces Music Festival.

“This festival is a very exciting initiative,” she continues. “I have been to Malta once before, so it is wonderful to be returning and to be able to bring a percussion concert to the Maltese. I love the premise behind the festival too, as it’s an opportunity to celebrate music and its diversity.”

Glennie’s repertoire on the evening will include some of her own dynamic compositions, including Waterphone Improvisation and Orologeria Aureola (which she co-wrote with Philip Sheppard), as well as pieces by Nebojša Živkovic, James Tenney and Jacob ter Veldhuis.

“It promises to be a fairly eclectic affair,” she smiles. “It’s also slightly different to a piano or violin recital, partly because most of the composers are still living.

“Thus it brings something new and unusual to the scene and never fails to excite music lovers. It will hopefully attract a very diverse range of people too – those who love percussion and those who are curious about it.

“I hope they will sit back, take it all in and enjoy the diversity of the music and the instruments.”

Those instruments certainly promise something a little different, as Glennie will be playing the marimba, halo, tam tam, snare drum and even children’s toys (to name but a few).

“I will also be using the palace itself as an instrument, as I have no doubt that it will inspire me beautifully. The minute I walk into a space it becomes an extension of the instruments I have to work with. This won’t be a standard set and I look forward to seeing how it develops organically.”

Meanwhile, Glennie has yet to decide whether or not she will be playing barefoot – a trademark choice of hers that she regularly makes during live performances, as it helps her to feel the music better.

“My deafness has certainly given my relationship with sound a different angle. Thus, my life has been about finding new ways to listen and teaching the world about that too.

“My personal philosophy goes beyond music. It’s about opening the body up as a resonating chamber and finding ways to rethink how we listen and how we can enhance what we hear.

“It’s those sentiments that I hope to pass on during my time in Malta, and I am sure the audience will be excited to experience something new. And, even though my time on the island will be short, I am very much looking forward to taking a look around and spending a few relaxing hours exploring the island. It’s rare for me to even have a few hours off, so this will be something special,” she says.

The Three Palaces Festival runs between tomorrow and next Sunday. Evelyn Glennie performs on Saturday at 8pm at the Palace, Valletta. For invitations to the concert call Arts Council Malta on 2339 7000. Invitations will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis and entrance is against a €5 donation. Proceeds will go to the Community Chest Fund.

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