In the early 2000s, I had the pleasure to teach and perform together with the American marimba legend Michael Burritt at a couple of summer courses. In one concert, I remember he present his new solo piece Scirocco with fast-moving and swirling melodic lines – inspired by one of the eight desert winds across the Mediterranean Sea. The year after, Michael played the first performance of his lyric the Offering and both pieces are now standard works for marimba.

Almost twenty years later, I got the opportunity to write a solo piece for Michael Burritt and I want to catch the positive energy from his personality and from his strong virtuoso and lyric playing. And, as a greeting to Michael and with a little humor, the piece gets name after another desert wind across the Mediterranean Sea.

The Harmonies in Mistral is chosen by overtones from the low octaves of a marimba. Together, the notes in the chords form a tone color unique to the instrument.