Etnika Suite

ETNIKA SUITE – for Bb clarinet, violin and piano

This cycle was originally composed for the Etnika project concerning the revival of Maltese traditional instruments. The original instrumentation of these pieces within the Etnikaproject in 2000 was flute, clarinet, violin, guitar, accordion, piano, tuba and percussion. The music has been since arranged for various formations and ensembles and shall be premiered in this new version by the Equinox Trio. In the first movement; Ħarba, the melodic phrases on the violin are accompanied by mischievous ostinato patterns on piano and clarinet. The music also resolves on strong syncopated rhythmic passages that contrast with the cantabile melodic sections. Grintais based on an Arabic mode and as a result yields melodic references to the Arabesque. The bold introduction of the piece is soon contrasted by a delicate pizzicato/ staccato passage where the melody becomes almost transparent against the ‘pointillistic’ background. Logħba features a rhythm phrase derived from a Maltese traditional nursery rhyme “Ara Ġejja l-Mewt Għalik”. The music portrays a lively character with syncopated jolting rhythms reminiscent of Balkan gypsy music. The first section of Ragħaj evokes a country dance with a pastoral melody on violin and clarinet accompanied by arpeggios on the piano. The music unexpectedly changes to an upbeat, hard-driven rhythmic middle section which resolves in a violin solo carrying the music back to the pastoral theme.

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