FIERY MEDITATION

Festival Glasperlenspiel
Mon, July 13th at 10 pm
St. John’s church (Jaani street 5, Tartu)
FIERY MEDITATION
Tanel Eiko Novikov (marimbas, vibraphone, drums, human body)
Thomas, Cangelosi, Xenakis, Globokar, Lang, Reich

Tanel Eiko Novikov’s recital Fiery Meditation is a full-scale showcase of the percussion world – a wide range of works will be performed on marimba, vibraphone, various drums, and the human body. Specializing primarily in melodic instruments, Tanel Eiko approaches percussive works from a unique perspective, searching for melodies and timbres hidden in grooves and rhythmic patterns. The concert will end with Steve Reich’s iconic minimalist work Piano Phase, which Tanel performs alone (!) on two marimbas.

Tanel Eiko Novikov (2000) is an acclaimed Estonian percussionist and marimbist who is quickly becoming one of the most exciting voices of his generation.
His goal is to redefine the known boundaries of the marimba, garnering attention for his unique and personal programming, groundbreaking technical capabilities, intricate stylistic sensibilities, dynamic control, and intriguing collaborations.
He first gained wider recognition after winning the Estonian TV competition Classical Stars 2018 and representing Estonia at Eurovision Young Musicians 2018.
More recently he left a mark at the prestigious 7th World Marimba Competition in Germany (Finalist), the 19th Italy Percussion Competition (1st prize), Southern California Marimba Competition 2023 (2nd prize), and received the Yamaha Scandinavian Scholarship Award in 2023.
Performing actively across Europe, he has notably played solo recitals in the Estonia Concert Hall, Vanemuine Concert Hall and Jõhvi Concert Hall; the 1st studio of the Estonian Radio, celebrating the 24th birthday of the Estonian Classic Radio, and performed as a soloist in the Mariinsky Theatre Concert Hall in St. Petersburg, and the Henry Crown Hall at the Jerusalem Theatre.
Tanel has played in front of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Tel Aviv Soloists Ensemble and Helsinki Police Orchestra among others.
As an active chamber musician, Tanel has formed a percussion duo with Heigo Rosin, a mallet duo with the acclaimed Japanese marimbist Machi Ishida, Swedish-Estonian percussion quartet Ode to Noise, and is a founding member of the Estonian Percussion Group.
He was also the co-principal of the World Percussion Group tour in the UK, Spain and Portugal in 2023.
An advocate for new music, Tanel frequently collaborates with a wide variety of composers from around the world, and has premiered over 30 new works in the last couple of seasons.
Tanel has also gained attention as a music arranger and transcriber, notably for his boundary pushing solo marimba adaptations of Beethoven’s piano sonatas, Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires and a solo rendition of Steve Reich’s Piano Phase, performed on two marimbas. His arrangement of Piece from 1981 by Lepo Sumera for percussion quartet was published by Edition 49 in 2023.
He actively brings his ideas to life both as an artist, artistic director, and concert producer. In 2024 he organized his international solo-tour Egersis: Let the Marimba Speak, which included 8 concerts in Estonia, Denmark, and the Faroe Islands. He premiered 4 commissions from young composers in Europe and the USA.
Tanel started his studies at the Tallinn Music High School. In 2019, he continued his studies in Sweden at the Sundsgaarden Folk High School, and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree at The Royal Danish Academy of Music in Denmark.
Tanel Eiko Novikov is a Yamaha artist.

Organizers:
Peeter Vähi – artistic director
Tiina Jokinen – executive director
Kadri Kiis – producer, accountant
Meeta Vardja – musicologist, editor of festival booklet
Mart Kivisild – design
Olavi Sööt – co-producer, video, logistics
Reno Hekkonens – marketing director, PR
Johannes Vähi – co-producer, webmaster, sound engineering, logistics
Rebeca Birk – social media

Special thanks: Tartu City Government, Urmas Klaas, Triin Käpp, Jana Raud, Ministry of Culture of Estonia, Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Canon and Overall, St John’s church, Kaupo Kiis, Kristel Leppik, volunteers

Next Glasperlenspiel: July 8th – 13th, 2027