Musician and composer Faidros Kavallaris will attempt to keep the spirit of traditional Cypriot music alive and introduce it to coming generations on Wednesday, November 26, with a recital of his musical composition entitled “Parathesis” for brass quintet and four pieces for the piano based on traditional Cypriot songs.
The recital will be performed by pianists Annini Tsiouti and Manolis Neofitou. The first of the four compositions for the piano is a satirical lullaby entitled “Eftrapelon”. The piece uses the melody of a lullaby with satirical words remembered by musicologist Costas Ioannides when sang to him from a short collection of Cypriot folk songs. The piece was written in 2002 and was first performed during a concert for the Cyprian International Festival during that same year.
Kavallaris comments on the piece’s composition by saying “the piece uses a kind of polytonality and harmonic treatment of the traditional melodies which are drawn out from Cyprus’ musical tradition, and besides, the piece follows the strophic character of the traditional songs.”
The three other pieces were also composed during the summer of 2002 and share the same traditional modes of expression.
Kavallaris has been contributing to the world music scene for over 40 years. He showed an interest in composing at an early age and also had a feel for painting, poetry and ancient Greek drama. When studying music and architecture in London, he wrote music for a production of Aristofanis’ comedy “The Birds” in 1971. In 1973 he organised his first concert showcasing all the songs he had written up to that point. His canon of work since then has grown to entail a lifetime of songs. Some of these can be found on his CD Kypriaka Erotika, comprising of 15 traditional Cypriot songs.
His works have now been performed in Cyprus, China, Japan, England, Germany, Hungary, France, Greece, Mexico, the USA, the Philippines and Italy.
Musical Recital
A recital of songs composed by Faidros Kavallaris. November 26. Kastelliotissa, Nicosia. 7.30pm. Free entrance. Tel: +357 99-553174.
