Reshaping the relationship between individual and community through musical culture is the essence of Reshaping the Tradition, Modal Music from the Eastern Mediterranean, the third event of the series A Corde Spiegate, now in its 5th edition. The Labyrinth/Chigiana ensemble will perform on Saturday, October 5th at 7:30 PM, at the Church of Santa Caterina da Siena in Naples. The ensemble’s original music will enchant listeners with typical instruments from the Eastern Mediterranean (lyra, tarhu, oud, robab) and their evocative sounds. There is also great anticipation for the arrival in Naples of two internationally renowned artists: Ross Daly – known for his deep knowledge of Mediterranean musical traditions and for creating an innovative musical language – and Kelly Thoma – a virtuoso of the lyra who combines technical skill and interpretative sensitivity. A Corde Spiegate is a series conceived by the Fondazione Pietà de’ Turchini, promoted and financed by the Municipality of Naples as part of Napoli Città della Musica. All events are free of charge, with prior reservation by writing to segreteria@turchini.it.
Reshaping the Tradition, Modal Music from the Eastern Mediterranean is the musical program proposed by the Labyrinth Ensemble, in collaboration with ISMEO – International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies, the Chigiana Academy, and Labyrinth Italia. The Labyrinth/Chigiana ensemble serves as a crossroads of people, languages, and musical cultures, deeply exploring the melodic and rhythmic languages of modal music. In a contemporary society where traditions are often used as a pretext to justify power or create barriers against others, Labyrinth/Chigiana prefers to investigate these distances, relating them and making them more productive for both musicians and the audience.
According to the ensemble: “the variety of musical traditions we encounter today is not a simple collection of memories from the past, but a living and dynamic memory that expands in all directions, ready to be interpreted, shared, and reshaped. This is precisely the meaning of Reshaping the Tradition.”
The Artists
Ross Daly (lyra and tarhu), Kelly Thoma (lyra), Martha Mavroidi (voice and lafta), Peppe Frana (oud and robab), Ciro Montanari (tabla), and Zohar Fresco (percussion) are the musicians of the evening, hailing respectively from the United Kingdom, Greece (Kelly and Martha), Italy, and Israel.
Ross Daly has traveled the world, especially in Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, to study music and local traditions. He coined the term “contemporary modal music” (a repertoire of contemporary compositions influenced by the grammar of musical cultures spread across a geographic area extending from West Africa to the western fringes of China) and founded the Labyrinth Musical Workshop in Crete, where he settled in 1982, an educational institution that brings together masters from around the world to offer seminars and masterclasses on modal music.
Kelly Thoma began studying the lyra with Ross Daly in 1995. A few years later, she started traveling with him and his group “Labyrinth” to perform in some of the world’s most prestigious theaters and festivals, such as Theatre de la Ville, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Carnegie Hall. Her numerous collaborations have allowed her to develop a personal style and a creative approach to traditional music, enabling her lyra to achieve a unique and hard-to-imitate sound.
Zohar Izhak Fresco is an Israeli percussionist and composer, among the most important specialists in frame drum percussion techniques. His technique, which combines various traditions and performance practices, is admired worldwide.
Martha Mavroidi is a Greek singer, instrumentalist, and composer whose extraordinary voice intertwines Greek and Middle Eastern ornaments and microtonal subtleties with the rich colors of Bulgarian singing. Her technique on the lafta and saz is often compared to that of absolute masters of folk and jazz. Her debut album “The Garden of Rila,” acclaimed by critics, has established her as a prominent folk musician and singer.
Ciro Montanari began his musical career studying Indian percussion (tabla), both in India and Italy, before attending seminars on Afghan music at the Labyrinth music school in Crete, founded by Ross Daly. Among his important collaborations are those with Jordi Savall and Efrem Lopez.
Peppe Frana, artistic director of Labyrinth Italia, developed a passion for overseas and British rock at a young age before being struck by an interest in extra-European modal music through the music of Ross Daly. He studied the Turkish oud and has since become one of the most appreciated soloists and teachers of plectrum lute. He graduated with honors in philosophy from “L’Orientale” in Naples and regularly collaborates with world-renowned artists in the field of ancient, oriental, and non-classical music, maintaining a flourishing concert activity worldwide.
