Tanya Ekanayaka
18 Piano Sutras & 25 South Asian Pianisms
18 Piano Sutras & 25 South Asian Pianisms – the latest double album from internationally renowned composer-pianist Dr Tanya Ekanayaka – releases April 28th 2023 on the Naxos World label.
Dr Tanya Ekanayaka is a Sri Lankan-British producer, scholar and notably, one of the world’s most prolific female composer-pianists.
Composed in 2021 and 2022, 18 Piano Sutras & 25 South Asian Pianisms explores life’s beauty, fragility, complexity and simplicity.
The 18 Piano Sutras of Collection 1 are inspired by 18 endangered, critically endangered, at risk, threatened, very old, and in some cases extinct languages and secular songs with lyrics in these languages spread across six of Earth’s continents.
|
☆☆☆☆☆ "…for we hear an original musical mind at work” Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music Review “…transcends the boundaries of 'popular' and 'classical’” "…scrupulous voicing” “Her keyboard technique is formidable” |
The 25 South Asian Pianisms of Collection 2 draw on 22 languages of the 8 nations of Tanya Ekanayaka’s home region and secular songs with lyrics in the languages. The final pianism, ‘Ode to South Asia,’ is her homage to South Asia.
Combined, over two hours of serene, delicate and at times heavy and sombre piano music carries us through a compelling Asianesque journey.
Born and raised in Sri Lanka’s Kandyan highlands, Tanya Ekanayaka began studying the piano at the age of five before going on to study under specialists from Asia, Europe and North America over subsequent decades and performing in celebrated international concert venues. Her artistry draws on her classical training, background in South Asian and world musics, and transdisciplinary background in musicology, linguistics, literature, and critical theory. Consequently, her music serves to further the piano’s musical journey to cultures and spaces that mostly sit beyond the traditional realms of the piano repertoire.
Diversity is just one of the many prominent themes woven within Tanya Ekanayaka’s work. An artiste inspired by the natural world; her evocative pieces consider the deeper inner emotions of the human condition. While such concepts are as captivating as they are eternal, Tanya Ekanayaka’s style of composition is no less intriguing. Her works remain unscored, existing exclusively within her memory from genesis to recording. Tanya Ekanayaka is the first Sri Lankan composer, in history, to have entire albums of original music released globally by international record labels.
With such a rich palette to pick from, it is little wonder that the composer-pianist continues to paint pictures of sound to the joy of many.
For further information please contact Amelia Zimmatore | amelia@arcmusic.co.uk | +44(0)1342 770478
ARC Music Productions Int Ltd, PO Box 111, East Grinstead, RH19 4FZ, UK | www.arcmusic.co.uk