Kabalka

The author writes: “Having already spent some years in Paris, I became more interested in traditional Greek music which I had never really looked into before. This is what happens when one distances oneself from something; later, it becomes clearer. Nostalgia is one of the reasons for this exploration, but it has more to do with identity; we know best what we learned when we were young. Kabalka’s main theme is inspired from the stringed instrument the Qanun, I experimented on how its sonority could be adapted to the guitar. This is the reason for the ornamentation and resonances. The rhythm is often complex, as in most traditional Greek dances, and in terms of structure, the whole piece is based on the three first notes. Kabalka is the name of the place where my grandfather lived. This composition is dedicated to his memory.”