Labyrinth Ensemble with Evgenios Voulgaris

Join us in the Auditorium for an exploration of 17th-century music composed by Romanian prince Dimitrie Cantemir and one of the most important figures in Ottoman music, Ali Ufki.

Voulgaris will also present contemporary compositions that draw from the social and historical context of makam music traditions, sharing the ways in which artists continue to keep them alive by constantly creating and adding new material to the repertoire.

Sometimes referred to as a mode, makam is a collection of pitch material with specific intervals that come together to create unique flavours that distinguish each piece. The first part of the performance will be in nihavend and the second in ussaq. Listen carefully for the shifts in pitch as the program unfolds.

Composed of 14 stellar musicians, the Labyrinth Ensemble is dedicated to the study and performance of sonic traditions rooted in modal music, experimenting with sounds that stretch from Afghanistan through Central and West Asia and beyond. Each member of the ensemble is trained in more than one musical tradition, including Korean, Turkish, Chinese, and jazz, opening up unlimited possibilities for creative collaboration and composition.