| The Circle at the Crossroads |
 The music of Crete is one of Europe's most vibrant traditions and, strangely enough, it is also one of its least known. Crete, due to its singularly central geographical location has absorbed influences from both East and West for literally thousands of years and its music reflects this unique synthesis. Most Cretan music is dance music although other genres are also to be found, most notably a very special repertoire of slow songs of extraordinary beauty and sophistication known as rizitika. The Circle at the Crossroads is the title of a musical production created by Ross Daly (who has himself lived on Crete and studied Cretan music for more than thirty years) which incorporates elements from the distant past as well as contemporary compositions within the genre of Cretan music. It is a reference to a folk tale, well known all over Crete which, on the one hand, describes the mystical process of initiation into playing the lyra*, and on the other, clearly defines the relationship of the musician to the tradition which he serves.
The tale goes like this: A young aspiring musician wishing to learn to play the lyra must go at dusk to a crossroads, etch a circle on the ground, and sit inside it with his instrument waiting for night to fall. As soon as it becomes dark, demons appear who try to entice him to leave his circle. This he must not do under any circumstances as they would devour him as soon as he steps outside of it. When they realize that he cannot be convinced to leave his circle they ask him to give them his lyra so that they might play for him. At this point he gives them the instrument knowing well that they are unparalleled in the art of playing the lyra. One after the other they play the most exquisite and magical melodies all night for him. Everything which the young aspirant hears on this night he must remember because this is a lesson especially for him which will not be repeated. As soon as the first light of dawn appears, the demons give him back the lyra and prepare to leave. Before they disappear however, the young lyra student must place the tip of his little finger outside the circle so that the demons might eat it as their payment for the lesson. Following this they disappear and the young man returns to his village with all that he needs to become an accomplished lyra-player.    *lyra: A small 3-stringed, pear-shaped, upright knee-fiddle which is the prime instrument of Cretan music. Musicians: 7. Kelly Thoma 8. Ross Daly
The small version of the current project consists of the following musicians: 2. Bijan Chemirani 3. Kelly Thoma 4. Ross Daly |
Ross Daly's News
(02/06/10) “Anamkhara” by Kelly Thoma
Read more
(11/03/09) Ross Daly Seminar at Labyrinth
Read more