Melissa, Lemonias, Manias & Escartin

"In this concert you will hear classical Ottoman pieces, some Black Sea, Greek and Catalan traditional songs, and original compositions inspired by them. The power of the resonance of the strings and the non temperate melodies are some of the elements in common in all the styles mentioned previously. It will be our own version and interpretation of music that has been played for centuries.

MORE INSIGHTS ABOUT THIS CONCERT: I am Laia, a Batavier, and the last years I have been researching on how changing the way of playing the viola to get closer to the sound of middle eastern bowed instruments, also observing the relation between Ottoman, Greek and Black Sea melodies with the melodies of the songs I grew up with (Catalaan folk songs) --perhaps, comparing and relating as a way of embodying something new--.

One of the elements that has been captivating me is the power of resonance that strings have and how you can with one instrument play a melody in one string and at the same time accompany it with a drone with the other strings, making the melody and the drone become one. This feature happens, in fact, in many musical traditions, such as in Scandinavian and in French folk, which I have been listening since very young age and which have, inevitably, also influenced the melodies I have been composing. There are similarities on how bowed instruments are played in different traditions, and I could continue talking about this, but I think, better come and listen to the music.

I am very glad to have put together three fantastic greek string players who have been inspiring me and who have made this mixed repertoire become blended in a common sound. Each of these three musicians have their own musical background, which is, actually, also reflected in how the pieces have been arranged, and they are : Yvonni MELISSA from Kavala, Vasilis LEMONIAS from the bay of Volos and Kiriakos MANIAS from the island of Crete.

Yvonni Melissa: violin, vocals Vasilis Lemonias: cello Kiriakos Manias: lute, lavta, vocals Laia Escartin: viola, vocals"