Many years before what we call “World Music” appeared on the scene, certain individuals had already understood the enormous value and vast variety of the world’s various musical traditions and had dedicated their lives to their study. One such person is Ross Daly. Although of Irish descent, Ross Daly does not really fit into any particular ethnic stereotype given that his life has been spend in many
different parts of the world and his home for the last 35 years is the island of Crete in Greece. Ross Daly, at a very early age, discovered that music was, in his own words, “the language of my dialogue with that which I perceive to be sacred”. Ross Daly (born 29 September 1952 in King's Lynn, Norfolk) is a world musician who specializes in music of the Cretan lyra. Although of Irish descent, he has been living on the island of Crete for over 35 years. In 1982 he established an educational institution called Labyrinth Musical Workshop, in the village in Crete, twenty kilometers south of the capital city of Herakleion. More than 250 instruments that Daly collected during his travels are on show.
This dialogue eventually led him to the great modal traditions of the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Indian Subcontinent where he finally found the musical archetypes that he had been searching for all
his life. In these traditions he encountered music which was not merely a vehicle of selfexpression, but which was able to take one beyond what one normally perceived to be the boundaries of one’s self into other transpersonal realms of experience. This discovery changed everything in Ross Daly’s life and he subsequently gave up all other activities and dedicated his life to the study of the innermost secrets of these musical traditions as well as to the art of composition.
He subsequently travelled extensively, studying under many of the world’s greatest masters of modal traditions. Since 1975 he has been based on the island of Crete where he is universally recognized as
one of the foremost experts on the island’s rich musical tradition. In 1990 Daly designed a new type of Cretan lyra which incorporates elements of lyraki, the byzantine lyra and the Indian sarangi. The result was a lyra with three playing strings of 29 cm in length (the same as the standard Cretan lyra), and 18 sympathetic strings which resonate on Indian-styled jawari bridges (the number of sympathetic strings was later increased to 22).
He is also especially well known and respected for his ability to bring artists of different and seemingly unrelated traditions together in collaborations of unique quality and depth. In 1982 he established the Labyrinth Musical Workshop which is today situated in the village of Houdetsi 20 kms south of the
capital city of Herakleion. After many years of intensive training in a variety of musical traditions, Ross Daly turned his attention largely to composition drawing heavily on all of the knowledge which he acquired during his long apprenticeships. Today he has released more than thirty eight albums of his own compositions as well as of his own arrangements of traditional melodies that he collected during his travels. The island of Crete in Greece still provides a base for his personal and musical research as he continues travelling around the world performing his music.
Ross Daly has traveled the world, mainly in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, studying various forms of local music traditions. In 1982 he established an educational institution called Labyrinth Musical Workshop, which since 2002 is situated in the village of Houdetsi, on the island of Crete. Seminars and "master-classes" are conducted every year at Labyrinth with some of the greatest teachers of traditional music from around the world. It is a meeting point for musicians and students and is recognized as the leading institution in Greece today, in the field of education of modal and traditional music in general.
The Musical Workshop Labyrinth, of which Ross Daly is the founder and artistic director, has been very active in promoting and supporting this type of composition as it crosses ethnic and other lines as well as stressing contemporary creative work in musical idioms which are usually considered to be “traditional” and therefore with their “creative center” in the past. Ross Daly himself disputes this notion, believing instead that the epithet “traditional” implies above all an element of timelessness in which the contributions of the past, present and future are equally important and relevant to the creative process.
In Summer 2004 he was the artistic director of the cultural program of the Olympic Games for the Olympic city of Heraklion on the island of Crete, titled “Crete, Music Crossroads”. He organized and artistically supervised 15 concerts with the participation of 300 musicians from all over the world. Amongst others there were musicians of international fame as : Jordi Savall, Eduardo Niebla, Huun Huur Tu, Habil Aliev, Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan, Mohammad Rahim Khushnawaz, Trio Chemirani, Adel Salameh and many others. Today, Ross Daly continues travelling and performing in Greece and abroad whilst simultaneously directing the Musical Workshop “Labyrinth” in the village of Houdetsi on Crete. Daly has released more than 35 albums of his own compositions and of his own arrangements of traditional melodies collected during his travels.
Το ταξίδι του Ross Daly στις μουσικές του κόσμου είναι ταυτόχρονα μια πορεία ζωής. Γεννημένος στην Αγγλία από Ιρλανδούς γονείς, ταξιδεύει μαζί τους σε πολλές χώρες και σύντομα αναδύεται το βαθύ του ενδιαφέρον για τη μουσική.
Το πρώτο του όργανο είναι ένα τσέλο, ενώ στα δώδεκά του, στην Ιαπωνία, ξεκινά τη μελέτη της κιθάρας. Στα τέλη της δεκαετίας του '60 βρίσκεται στο San Francisco. Έχοντας βιώσει την κλασική πειθαρχία, αλλά και το κλίμα ελευθερίας και πειραματισμού της εποχής, έρχεται για πρώτη φορά σε επαφή με τη μουσική παράδοση της Ανατολής, γεγονός που άλλαξε ριζικά τη ζωή του... Ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον γι' αυτόν είχε η Ινδική κλασική μουσική, η οποία έτυχε να είναι η πρώτη μη δυτική παράδοση την οποία μελέτησε εμπράκτως. Στα χρόνια που ακολούθησαν ταξίδεψε εκτενώς, μελετώντας μια ποικιλία μουσικών οργάνων και παραδόσεων. Την εποχή αυτή δίνει έμφαση στη μουσική της Ινδίας και του Αφγανιστάν.
Το 1975 ταξίδεψε στην Κρήτη, την οποία είχε προηγουμένως επισκεφθεί για ένα σύντομο διάστημα το 1970 και το 1972, όπου είχε εντυπωσιαστεί πολύ από τη λύρα. Έπειτα από μία εξάμηνη περιήγηση από χωριό σε χωριό, όπου έρχεται σε επαφή με λαϊκούς μουσικούς , εγκαταστάθηκε στα Χανιά και ξεκίνησε να μελετά την κρητική λύρα με το μεγάλο δάσκαλο Κώστα Μουντάκη. Η μαθητεία του
διήρκεσε πολλά χρόνια. Την ίδια περίοδο επισκεπτόταν συχνά την Τουρκία όπου μελέτησε την Κλασική Οθωμανική καθώς και την λαϊκή τουρκική μουσική. Έπειτα από αρκετά χρόνια εντατικής εκπαίδευσης σε διάφορες μουσικές παραδόσεις , το ενδιαφέρον του Ross Daly στρέφεται έντονα στη σύνθεση δίνοντας έμφαση στις διάφορες πηγές τις οποίες είχε μελετήσει. Σήμερα έχει κυκλοφορήσει περισσότερους από εικοσιπέντε δίσκους με συνθέσεις του, όσο και με δικές του διασκευές διαφόρων παραδοσιακών μελωδιών που είχε συγκεντρώσει κατά τη διάρκεια των ταξιδιών του. Η Κρήτη εξακολουθεί να αποτελεί μία βάση για την προσωπική και τη μουσική του έρευνα , ενώ ταυτόχρονα ταξιδεύει σε όλον τον κόσμο δίνοντας συναυλίες με περιεχόμενο τη μουσική του.
Δεξιοτέχνης πολλών μουσικών οργάνων ο ίδιος, ο Ross Daly έχει συμπράξει επανειλημμένως με μεγάλους μουσικούς από όλο τον κόσμο δουλεύοντας μέσα στη μουσική πειθαρχεία των ανατολικών παραδόσεων, εξερευνώντας ταυτόχρονα νέες φόρμες και το δημιουργικό αυτοσχεδιασμό. Μεταξύ άλλων, παίζει κρητική λύρα, Αφγανικό ραμπάμπ , λαούτο, πολίτικη λύρα, σαράνγκι, ούτι, σάζι και ταμπούρ.
Μοναδικός ως συνθέτης, ο Ross Daly χτίζει τις συνθέσεις του γύρω από τις λεπτές αποχρώσεις και τις ζωντανές συναντήσεις των διαφόρων ήχων των παραδόσεων που έχει μελετήσει. Η στενή προσωπική σχέση του με τους μουσικούς με τους οποίους συνεργάζεται είναι εξέχουσας σημασίας για τον ίδιο τον Daly, καθώς πιστεύει ότι αυτό το εσωτερικό δέσιμο είναι που δίνει ζωή στη μουσική. Ο μοναδικός ήχος της μουσικής του αντανακλά την προσωπική του φιλοσοφία, επηρεασμένη από την παράδοση των Σούφι , η οποία τονίζει την ιερή φύση της ίδιας της μουσικής , την τεράστια δύναμη που εμπεριέχει καθώς και την αναγκαιότητα, για αυτούς που ασχολούνται με αυτήν, να της παραδοθούν ανιδιοτελώς και ανεπιφύλακτα .
Η διαδικασία αυτή έχει ως αποτέλεσμα μία υπερβατική και πνευματική μουσική εμπειρία , την οποία
μοιράζονται οι μουσικοί με τους ακροατές και που δεν έχει την παραμικρή σχέση με τους σύγχρονους όρους "World music"και "Ethnic". Η μουσική του Ross Daly προσφέρει κάτι που όλο και πιο δύσκολα βρίσκει κανείς στις μέρες μας: τη συνέχεια και την ενότητα. Το να γίνεται κανείς κοινωνός της ουσίας της μουσικής που δεν έχει κανένα φυσικό όριο, είναι μία μαγική εμπειρία πέρα από το χώρο και το χρόνο , ενώνοντας τη φυσική ροή των αρχαίων παραδόσεων με τις πιο σύνθετες ανάγκες του σύγχρονου ακροατή.
Ο Ross Daly έχει εμφανιστεί σε πολλές χώρες και θέατρα όπως: Theatre de la Ville, Paris (1992-93, 2002,2003,2005), The Athens Concert Hall, Athens,(1993),Festival of Jerusalem (1995), Luxembourg(1994), Passionskirche, Berlin (1994,95,96),Aarhus, Denmark(1997), Huset theatre,Ahlborg, Denmark (1995-97),Copanhagen, Denmark (1995-97), Archaeological Museum Madrid 1998-99, 2001, Festival of Murcia, Spain (1999), Cemal Resit Rey Conser Salonu, Istanbul (1997), Lycabettus Theatre, Athens 1987,91,93,98). Queen Elizabeth Hall, London (1998-2000-2), WDR, Munich (1999), WDR Wuppertal (1992),Luxembourg (1992), Nuremberg (1992), Frankfurt (1992). Σήμερα συνεχίζει να ταξιδεύει και να δίνει συναυλίες στην Ελλάδα και το εξωτερικό, ενώ ταυτόχρονα διευθύνει το Μουσικό Εργαστήρι "Λαβύρινθος" στο χωριό Χουδέτσι στην Κρήτη.
ROSS DALY - SELECTED WORKS 1994
recorded in Greece.
Ross Daly – Selected Works
Label: Λαβύρινθος – C.D. 70205, RCA – C.D. 70205, BMG – C.D. 70205
Format: CD
Country: Greece
Released: 1994
Genre: Folk, World, Ethnic
Style: Free Improvisation, Folk
TRACKS
01. Improvisation With Rababa & Sarangi 9:50
Sarangi, Tabla, Bendir, Rebab – Ross Daly
02. Isios Horos (Even Dance) 7:38
Bendir – Amin Alagabu
Lyre – Ross Daly
03. Zeybek Dance 6:00
Bendir – Amin Alagab
Clarinet – Vassilis Soukas
Kemenche – Socrates Sinopoulos
Lyre, Tar (lute), Lute, Baglama, Rebab, Tambura [Saz], Kamancha [Kemanche], Tambura [Tanbur] – Ross Daly
Tambura [Saz] – Pericles Papapetropoulos
04. Thalassa Mavri (Black Sea) 15:27
Bendir – Katerina Papadopoulou
Bendir, Percussion [Naqarat] – Amin Alagabu
Double Bass – Tim Powell
Lyre [Pontic] – Elias Papadopoulos
Oud – Ioanna Andrews
Rabab – Ross Daly
Tambura [Tanbur] – Pericles Papapetropoulos
Violin – Senih Ündeger
05. Pentozalis 10:15
Bendir – Amin Alagabu
Lyre [Cretan], Cura – Ross Daly
Tambura [Saz] – Pericles Papapetropoulos
06. Iokasti's Dream 18:20
Bendir, Tambourine [Deff] – Katerina Papadopoulou
Clarinet – Vassilis Soukas
Double Bass – Tim Powell
Lute – Elias Papadopoulos
Oud – Ioanna Andrews
Percussion [Naqarat] – Amin Alagabu
Sitar, Lute, Tambura, Kemenche – Ross Daly
Tambura [Saz] – Pericles Papapetropoulos
Violin – Senih Ündeger
Composed By, Mixed By – Ross Daly
Cover – V.Avramopoulou
Engineer, Mixed By – D.Xenikakis (tracks: 2, 3, 5), P.Sapountzis (tracks: 1, 4, 6)
Mixed By – A.Mastorakis (tracks: 1, 4, 6)
Photography By – Stelios Tsagris
Producer – Nikos E. Tzanidakis
All pieces composed by Ross Daly except for the final fast section of "Pentozalis" which belongs to the musical tradition of Crete.
MP3 @ 320 Size: 153 MB
FLAC Size: 373 MB
ROSS DALY & CHEMIRANI TRIO - ARCHIVES [THEATRE DE LA VILLE - PARIS] 2004
Ross Daly Avec Chemirani Trio – Archives
Label: Naïve – TH 360102, Théâtre De La Ville – TH 360102
Format: CD
Country: France
Released: 2004
Date First Available: March 28, 2006
Genre: Folk, World, Ethnic
Style: Ethnic
TRACKS
01. Earoigon, Jurjuna, Houdetsanes Kontylies, Pentozalis 16:15
02. Synavgeia 26:31
03. Abacus 16:01
04. Makritsina 05:06
MUSICIANS
Ross Daly: Lyra Viol, Rabab, Lute [Saz]
Djamchid Chemirani: Goblet Drum [Zarb]
Keyvan Chemirani: Goblet Drum [Zarb], Bendir, Udu
Bijan Chemirani: Goblet Drum [Zarb], Daf, Bendir
Périclès Papapetropoulos: Lute [Saz]
Kelly Thoma, Stelios Petrakis: Lyra Viol
Angelina Tkatcheva: Santur
Thanka Kostas for the two etnic, after almost half a year something from this music again. I don't even need to listen here, i know i can rely on you. I ordered foreward the selected works (inexpressively).
ReplyDeleteBy the way i can get the Electric Flag best of today or tomorrow, for only 5e incl. postage. The cover alone is very attractive. If i like ir, i'll
order the first one too. I think a best of is also the best here wirh the band.
Maybe the music of Ross Daly will be a little bit difficult for your ears. I don't know, but I think so.
DeleteI just checked out. IT'S OKAY !!
DeleteIf i'm not mistaken a mixtens of balkan and orient.
Thank you for your always wonderful tips. Everything you know.
Ok my friend. Ross Daly is amazing in concert
DeleteI saw him two times
Josef, how are you getting those deals? 5e including postage sounds very good.
DeleteWe have a shipping service in Austria/Germany called MEDIMOPS.
DeleteThey are used items, books, music, films.... that you can buy cheaply. Postage is only 1e and never more than 3.75e and then you can buy as much as you want. I have found interesting cds and books very cheaply there. Mostly in new condition.
Thanks, I looked into it and it sounds like an amazing e-place. The used market was always very good in Germany, lots of options and pretty easy to buy/sell.
DeleteI think it is only accessible for German speaking countries. When i researched uk post punk/new wave a few months ago, i found dozens of titles here, all only 2 or 3e in mint condition.
ReplyDeleteEfkaristo
ReplyDeleteThanks for this!
ReplyDelete