Kinesis by Galan Trio

To cast spells, to enchant, to cry, to sing, to scream like a gale. These are some of the meanings of galan, and, appropriately enough, why the Galan Trio adopted their name back in 2012. A classical piano trio based in Athens, Greece, the three top-shelf virtuosi have earned a wide reputation for pushing the genre and raising the bar. Given the energy and momentum behind their performances and career, the pandemic lockdown hit them especially hard. But we also have it to thank for Kinesis, their new double album of ten brand new works.

In the field of biology, kinesis refers to the undirected movement of a cell or organism in response to an external stimulus. The music in Kinesis (after the Greek word κίνησις - movement), captures this “undirected movement” the trio was yearning for after a long period of silence.

Constrained during the European quarantine, they set about commissioning US-based composers – some with Greek heritage – for intensely personal pieces that reflected their own sense of isolation and struggle. In their own distinct languages and musical styles, the Kinesis composers provide a different perspective on the concept of motion, an idea strongly attached to music-making both in figurative and literal terms. And now the project has come to fruition in the form of tours, lectures, and masterclasses in nine institutions across the Eastern US.

As with their previous albums, Ararat and Switch, the Galan Trio continues their practice of commissioning and promoting new music. With Kinesis, they extend their efforts to a new continent and share stories of revival and rejuvenation after such a dark time.

Galan Trio was formed on December 2012, when 3 Greek soloists, Dimitra Triantafyllou - violin, Marina Kolovou - cello and Petros Bouras - piano, decided to play music together.

galantrio.com
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