Grigoryan Brothers: Strumming classical notes in age of funk rock
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by Madhusree Chatterjee on October 7, 2009

New Delhi, Oct 7(IANS) Australia’s leading classical guitarists, the
Grigoryan Brothers, swear by classical music in an age when the guitar
is either associated with contemporary western sounds or earthy folk
from the colourful mosaic of ethnic musical genres across the globe.
`The essence of our music is essentially Renaissance. It dates back to
the time when Alonso Mudarra of Spain composed the earliest notation
melodies in his book titled `Tres Libros de Musica’ in 1546 for the
Vihuela, the oldest recorded ancestor of the regular six-string
guitar. The vihuela morphed in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries to
suit the chords of the modern-day guitar. Our music is almost 500
years old,’ the brothers, Slava and Leonard Grigoryan, who played at
the Kamani Auditorium as part of the Delhi International Arts
Festival, told IANS in an interview.

Vihuela, which evolved towards the end of the 15th century, was a
cross between a guitar and a viola. It was played with six-double
strings strung with thin slabs of wood- and at times animal gut, the
brothers explained.

The brothers, who are of Russian-Armenian stock, released their new
album `Distance’ a couple of months ago.

`It is a compilation of classical guitar music by various composers
like Ralph Towner, William Lovelady and Nigel Westlake. We have
improvised a bit,’ the brothers said.

Their first duet album was released in 2003.

`It was a classical album with a few jazz riffs,’ the guitarists said.

Slava, the older sibling, however, recorded his first album at 16.

`I had a contract with Sony Music. The album came out when I was
18. Titled, `The Spirit of Spain’, it captured the soul of the
instrument and its origin in Spain first in classical music and then
in gypsy Flamenco music,’ Slava said.

On Tuesday, the duo played a few tracks from their new album, a couple
of compositions by the impressionist French composer of the early 20th
century, Claude Debussy, and some Latino music.

`We have composed original scores from South American music, mostly
from Brazil. The compositions are a fusion of traditional folk from
south America, jazz and classical music,’ the brothers said.

The brothers are also familiar with Indian music.

`When I moved to the UK, I met the Indian musician Trilok Gurtu in the
1990s. I liked his music and later played with him at the Womad (World
Music and Dance) Festival in Australia. I want to collaborate with him
some day. We have also performed with Australia’s most popular Indian
tabla player Bobby Singh,’ he said.

The siblings, who have trained under their parents – both musicians –
say their canvas is open to Indian fusion.

Leonard, the baby of the Grigoryan duo, plays a 12-string guitar and
`is a John Mclaughlin fan’.

`We usually listen to Pink Floyd, Ralph Towner and McLaughlin. But we
think Stevie Ray Vaughn was one of the greatest electric guitarist of
all times. Recently, we heard another young guitarist and song-writer
– Derek Trucks- play in Adelaide. He, like Ray Vaughn, has spent
several years in India. He was discovered by Eric Clapton and the
Allman Brothers,’ the siblings said.

The brothers, who have performed all over the world and at several
state orchestras in Australia said, `Guitar bridges divides of class,
creed, colour, countries and religion. It is the most popular string
instrument in the world- one that is portable and can be played by
anybody.’

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