By Genesis Benavides
Mikael Darmaine, composer and arranger for the band Warp Trio, performs a piano recital here at UNCP. Darmanie has performed throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. Darmaine a military brat, currently lives in New York City but is originally from Pembroke. Darmaine played four songs on the piano, each having their own history and story behind it.
The recital began with the showing of a silent film called The Great Train Robbery made in 1903, which was accompanied by a score made by Darmaine.
Darmaine played a piano piece entitled Winter Traces which was created by Kenneth Frazelle, a friend of Darmaine’s, the inspiration of this piece came from snowfall in Asheville, North Carolina.
Darmaine also played a piano piece entitled Impromptu in C Minor, Op. 90, No. 1 created by Franz Schubert, a German who is known for having dark themes and histories behind his music.
Darmaine states, “When I was younger, I didn’t like Schubert because I thought it was boring.”
After he learned about the stories that went with the songs, he found a new appreciation for Schubert.
Darmaine played a powerful and spiritual piece called Vingt Regards sur L’Enfant-Jésus by Olivier Messiaen, a symbolic piece that is about the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus.
Darmaine ends the recital with a piece called Pièces de Clavecin, Livre 1 by Elizabeth Jacquet de la Guerre, a female composer who was so talented that no one could deny it.
Darmaine is a strong advocate for the music being created today. He wanted to make music that was inspiring to the black community by giving them positive representation.
“You have to make your own journey,” Mikael Darmaine said.