Photo by Abby Gordon

Multi-instrumentalist and Portland native Machado Mijiga wears many hats, both literally and metaphorically. Classically-trained, jazz-weathered, and eclectically inclined, Mijiga left the proverbial creative "box" at a very early age, with access to many instruments and a diverse musical background brought about by an intercultural heritage. Mijiga is a musical polymath; composer, producer, bandleader, educator, gear fanatic, and audio engineer, to name a few. Authenticity and uniquity assume the locus of Mijiga's artistic identity. Self-expression is the prime directive, and the medium of choice changes like the weather.

Situations Suite (2022) is a five-movement exploration of how simple rhythms, motifs, and melodies can interact with each other in rather complex ways. Borrowing from elements of hip-hop, metal, and progressive electronic music, Situations stretches the idea of a “children’s song,” with themes inspired by mythology and folklore that tickle the mind and intrigue the ears.

Many elements of Situations Suite emulate electronic production techniques like delay, auto-panning, or even tremolo, often making use of extended mallet technique to do so,

Borrowing from Mijiga’s unique harmonic language and idiomatic phrasing, Situations Suite explores the humanity of an otherwise technical series of short pieces for mallet quartet and is sure to deliver some unforeseen atmospheres.

Situations Suite was written as part of Third Coast Percussion’s Currents Creative Partnership, a program for innovative music creators who are at the beginning of their careers, have less experience writing music for percussion, or are looking to expand their creative work in new directions.

“Mastery” duration: 3 minutes