Roadworks
Matthew Borg hits the Silk Road and finds that it leads to a musical discovery
The fabled Silk Road is a gargantuan ancient route that, starting in the old orient capitals of Luoyang and X'ian, pumps like a throbbing vein over 8,000 kilometres of deserts and mountains to weave through modern Iran, Iraq and Syria, bridging continents while making its way to the Mediterranean, where it disappears beyond the horizon of the imagination.
The route's last grand era was during the time of the Mongols, when the entire network from East to West formed part of the same empire and boomed with cultural, social and trade exchanges. And in much the same way that Islam spread along the trans-Saharan routes, so did Buddhism travel along the Silk Road.
With the fall of the Mongol empire and the rise of sea power, the importance of the Silk Road declined. Yet as it faded from the modern world that the Route itself had helped to lay the foundations of, it was transformed and became rooted into the human imagination as the symbol of man's yearning and endeavour; a journey whose endless miles stretching towards the unknown reflected the hope of extending human knowledge.
It is this infusion of cultural influences that composer Ruben Zahra has translated into the music of Silk Road, a concert for virtuoso cello, percussion spectacular and voice. The ensemble has been specially put together for the event, and features the Ars Ludi percussion duo, cellist Luca Peverini and contralto Marta Zanazzi.
The Ars Ludi percussion duo, made up of Gianluca Ruggeri and Rodolfo Rossi, has for over 20 years made its mark at international music festivals. The innovative approach of Ars Ludi and the production value of their concerts promote contemporary music to a level of artistic entertainment that compels audiences. For the Silk Road concert, the percussion of Ars Ludi will provide a colourful accompaniment as instruments change to reflect the different cultures and stages along the journey.
Cellist Luca Peverini has performed as a soloist in the major theatres in Europe, South America, the US and Japan. He currently holds the position of first cello and soloist with the chamber orchestra Concerto Italiano which specialises in ancient music performed on period instruments. He is also an active member of the Freon Ensemble, which is considered to be one of the most important ensembles dedicated to contemporary music. Peverini's recording for the label Opus 111 was awarded two due Grand Prix du Disque, two Gramophone Awards and CD of the year by the Classical Music magazine Amadeus.
The highlight of the concert will be the national premier of Zahra's composition, the Silk Road suite which, set in four movements, portrays the journey from the Mediterranean seaports to the ancient Chinese capital cities. The tribal rhythms of percussion meet the classical sound of the cello to create new language and musical forms, making the Silk Road a unique experience of contemporary music.
The journeymen
Ruben Zahra
The original line-up of cello and two percussionists sets the stage for an innovative music combination. The programme for the Silk Road concert has been selected to offer an exciting selection of contemporary music. Dynamic drum-kit duos, musical theatre, jazz cross-over, cello extravaganza and percussion solos will all feature. The programme will be embellished by three interludes composed by the famous 20th century French composer Eric Satie for voice, cello and percussion.
Among other works, the concert includes Accents by Emmanuel Sejournè for two percussionists and a very entertaining piece called Jazz Sketch - musical act for three performers. All the other works on the programme feature cello and percussion. The first movement of my Silk Road Suite, entitled Mediterranean Shores, is a cello solo.
The name of the concert refers to my composition Silk Road Suite which I composed in Oakland, California in 2001. This piece is set in four sections and portrays a music journey from the Mediterranean seaports to the ancient capitals of China. The cello is the protagonist in this work, weaving a musical narrative accompanied by a complex backdrop of more than 20 different percussion instruments.
Gianluca Ruggeri and Rodolfo Rossi
As a percussion ensemble Ars Ludi performs in a variety of music arenas. Modern, experimental music, however, is our speciality and the Silk Road concert provides us with the opportunity to present a riveting programme by some of our favourite contemporary composers, including your very own Ruben Zahra. The combination of cello and percussion offers a vast palette of sonorities - from classical to tribal, and anything in between.
Luca Peverini
I am so looking forward to this event because the programme for the Silk Road concert has been specially designed for the Malta Arts Festival - Summer 2007. We have a very strong selection of 20th century repertoire but the complexity of the music is conveyed via the bravura of the performance and at times accompanied by entertaining innuendos. Silk Road has a very high production value and I am sure we will perform this project in other major international music festivals.
Silk Road will be held at the Auberge de Castille courtyard on Monday at 9 p.m.
The route's last grand era was during the time of the Mongols, when the entire network from East to West formed part of the same empire and boomed with cultural, social and trade exchanges. And in much the same way that Islam spread along the trans-Saharan routes, so did Buddhism travel along the Silk Road.
With the fall of the Mongol empire and the rise of sea power, the importance of the Silk Road declined. Yet as it faded from the modern world that the Route itself had helped to lay the foundations of, it was transformed and became rooted into the human imagination as the symbol of man's yearning and endeavour; a journey whose endless miles stretching towards the unknown reflected the hope of extending human knowledge.
It is this infusion of cultural influences that composer Ruben Zahra has translated into the music of Silk Road, a concert for virtuoso cello, percussion spectacular and voice. The ensemble has been specially put together for the event, and features the Ars Ludi percussion duo, cellist Luca Peverini and contralto Marta Zanazzi.
The Ars Ludi percussion duo, made up of Gianluca Ruggeri and Rodolfo Rossi, has for over 20 years made its mark at international music festivals. The innovative approach of Ars Ludi and the production value of their concerts promote contemporary music to a level of artistic entertainment that compels audiences. For the Silk Road concert, the percussion of Ars Ludi will provide a colourful accompaniment as instruments change to reflect the different cultures and stages along the journey.
Cellist Luca Peverini has performed as a soloist in the major theatres in Europe, South America, the US and Japan. He currently holds the position of first cello and soloist with the chamber orchestra Concerto Italiano which specialises in ancient music performed on period instruments. He is also an active member of the Freon Ensemble, which is considered to be one of the most important ensembles dedicated to contemporary music. Peverini's recording for the label Opus 111 was awarded two due Grand Prix du Disque, two Gramophone Awards and CD of the year by the Classical Music magazine Amadeus.
The highlight of the concert will be the national premier of Zahra's composition, the Silk Road suite which, set in four movements, portrays the journey from the Mediterranean seaports to the ancient Chinese capital cities. The tribal rhythms of percussion meet the classical sound of the cello to create new language and musical forms, making the Silk Road a unique experience of contemporary music.
The journeymen
Ruben Zahra
The original line-up of cello and two percussionists sets the stage for an innovative music combination. The programme for the Silk Road concert has been selected to offer an exciting selection of contemporary music. Dynamic drum-kit duos, musical theatre, jazz cross-over, cello extravaganza and percussion solos will all feature. The programme will be embellished by three interludes composed by the famous 20th century French composer Eric Satie for voice, cello and percussion.
Among other works, the concert includes Accents by Emmanuel Sejournè for two percussionists and a very entertaining piece called Jazz Sketch - musical act for three performers. All the other works on the programme feature cello and percussion. The first movement of my Silk Road Suite, entitled Mediterranean Shores, is a cello solo.
The name of the concert refers to my composition Silk Road Suite which I composed in Oakland, California in 2001. This piece is set in four sections and portrays a music journey from the Mediterranean seaports to the ancient capitals of China. The cello is the protagonist in this work, weaving a musical narrative accompanied by a complex backdrop of more than 20 different percussion instruments.
Gianluca Ruggeri and Rodolfo Rossi
As a percussion ensemble Ars Ludi performs in a variety of music arenas. Modern, experimental music, however, is our speciality and the Silk Road concert provides us with the opportunity to present a riveting programme by some of our favourite contemporary composers, including your very own Ruben Zahra. The combination of cello and percussion offers a vast palette of sonorities - from classical to tribal, and anything in between.
Luca Peverini
I am so looking forward to this event because the programme for the Silk Road concert has been specially designed for the Malta Arts Festival - Summer 2007. We have a very strong selection of 20th century repertoire but the complexity of the music is conveyed via the bravura of the performance and at times accompanied by entertaining innuendos. Silk Road has a very high production value and I am sure we will perform this project in other major international music festivals.
Silk Road will be held at the Auberge de Castille courtyard on Monday at 9 p.m.