Strings in sync
The Hindu : Musical Tapestries from Portugal” by the gifted Eurico Pereira set the tune of the first concert of the 11th East West Music and Dance Encounter by the Bangalore School of Music at the Alliance Francaise.Organised by Dockers San Francisco, Fundacao Oriente Haywards Black and Radio Indigo 91.9 FM, the curtain-raiser unfurled a rich tapestry of music from the western European country.Twenty-eight-year-old Eurico Pereira enthralled the audience with his intricate music — performing “small pieces, each very different from each other, coming from different countries and having different styles” in the first half of the performance. Clad in a red shirt, the demonstrative musician performed with the guitar perfectly nestled on his knee.Eurico was simply a genius – having played the instrument since he was nine, he studied at the National Conservatoire at Lisbon and the University of Evora, before being awarded a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music in London.With just a lone spotlight shining on him in the dark hall, Eurico performed a bout of compositions on the guitar which seemed to be the very core of his musical self. Performing the Venezuelan Antonio Lauro’s “Valse (Waltz) Venezuelano No. 3”, the composer’s most famous work, Eurico’s intonating rendition straddled the space between mirthful and solemn. Mexican composer Manuel Maria Ponce’s “Three Preludios” were brimming with rhythm – from being delightful, light, playful and coaxing, the music let you drift away.British composer William Walton’ “Bagatelles” was more animated, characterised by notes ranging from sensuous to short, staccato. It was like ripples in a lake snaking their way through to form veins and lines; and Eurico’s performance was sustained and well-constructed.Playing Bohemian baroque lute player Jan Antonin Losy from Prague saw Eurico breathing, soaking and luxuriating in the Italian and French fusion music. “Beethoven of the Guitar”, Spanish Fernando Sor’s “Little Stories from Opus 31” was tuneful and soothing, with a very serious, piano sound…More
