Héritier Mayimbi Mbuangi
The Democratic Republic of the Congo

“Kintuadi” (Let’s Unite) was composed in 2023 and will be premiered in 2024. It is connected to Beethoven’s Sonata no. 30 in E Major, Op. 109.

In memory of the victims of the current conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
May the entire African continent unite in peace and rejoice in our ancient common roots.

HERITIER MAYIMBI MBUANGI was born in Boma, the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1983 and currently lives in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa. He is a composer and violinist and serves as the Concertmaster of the Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste, the only symphony orchestra in central Africa, as seen in the internationally acclaimed 2010 documentary film “Kinshasa Symphony”.

Trained as an amateur musician under the orchestra’s supervision from 1996-2003, he continued to receive professional training at the National Institute of Arts, obtaining a Graduate Diploma in Music and Violin in 2006. In 2014, Mr. Mayimbi received an additional diploma in Ethnomusicology. He participated in several workshops and internships overseas, such as Orchestral Studies in CDR Evry Centre Essonne in France in 2008; Chamber Music, Improvisation and Composition at AKDT/Libramot in Belgium in 2011; and an Orchestral Internship with the WDRorchestra of Cologne in Germany in 2014.

Since his childhood, Héritier has been passionate about music and began singing in a group of Kimbanguist musicians at the age of 10. At 14, he started composing as well. From 2003, his compositions have been regularly performed under the guidance of the conductor Maestro Armand Diangienda Wabasolele.

As a violinist, Héritier MayimbiI Mbuangi has been performing recitals since 1998. In 2002 joined the OSK as concertmaster of the orchestra. In 2013 he has performed in Los Angeles with pianist Herbie Hancock, a meeting that influenced his compositional style of integrating modern and classical music with the influence of Jazz and local Congolese traditions.

Composer’s Note:

Kintuadi (Let’s Unite) is a work for piano in a single movement, inspired by the piano sonata no. 30 opus 109 by Beethoven. The new piece is constructed in the image of the classical sonata form, yet having at its foundation three alternating themes of contrasting characters.  The sober first theme appears in 9/8 time. Its melodic idea is clearly modeled on the second theme from the first movement of  Beethoven's Sonata No. 30.
The fast second theme appears 10 measures into the work, a 7 beats theme in a combination of 6/8 + 9/8+ 6/8. The rhythmic and melodic qualities of this theme are based on a typical African motif.  Evoking a flame light, it evolves gradually through imitations in modal keys until arriving at the splendor of the E minor key. Here, the third theme makes its appearance, deriving its material from the “Peace motif" of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.
The development section of the work is taken over by the second and third themes and the recapitulation resolves all the materials in a new and transformed way.
The work is dedicated to the memory of the victims of the current conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.
May the entire African continent unite in peace and rejoice in our ancient common roots.