CCMusic.com

Arcomusical, led by percussionist/composer/scholar Gregory Beyer, is an ensemble devoted to the promotion and exploration of the berimbau, an Afro-Brazilian instrument closely associated with capoeira. In his stewardship of Arcomusical, Beyer has carved a unique path commissioning new works for berimbau ensemble and expanding it's presence within contemporary concert music. In addition, Arcomusical has established meaningful relationships in Brazil, notably cultivating a sister ensemble in Belo Horizonte. Emigre and Exile is Arcomusical's third album project. A product of the pandemic that has dramatically shifted all of our lives, it was recorded entirely in multi-track fashion to ensure the safety and well being of each individual musician during the pre-vaccine era in the summer of 2020. It features six compositions by four composers: Jeremy Muller, Alexandre Lunsqui, Matt Ulery, and Arco-musical Artistic Director Gregory Beyer. This album continues Arcomusical's musical vision to celebrate and highlight the voice of the musical bow through creative and colorful chamber music, incorporating deep influences from the Afro-Brazilian berimbau and it's African musical bow cousins such as the Mbundu hungu from Angola, the Tsonga xitendefrom Mozambique and the Zulu umakhweyana from South Africa.