composition, improvisation and arrangements
in modal music
14 to 18 April 2025
OBJECTIVES
The aim of these workshops is to experiment in the field of so-called ‘modal’ music, which makes limited use of harmony and bases its structure on certain very specific and defined scales, rules and aesthetics of movement and ornamentation.
With this in mind, we analyse pieces from several traditions that use these modal systems (Greek, Turkish, Iranian, Arabic, Azeri, Indian, Afghan music, etc.), both in their melodic/intervallic and rhythmic aspects.
From the analysis of all this material, we can create our own compositions, arrangements and improvisations, using particular intervals, irregular rhythms and other elements not usual in Western European traditions.
PEDAGOGICAL CONTENT
The basic elements on which we are working are as follows:
- Introduction au Makam turc, etroitement lié au Maqam arabe, au Dastgah persan et aux Ihoi byzantins, en analysant certains de leurs modes : Uşşak, Beyati, Hüseyni, Karciğar, Muhayyer, Muhayyer Kürdi, Isfahan, Buselik, Hicaz, Humayün, Uzzal, Şehnaz, Şedd-i Araban, Kürdi, Bestenigar, Sabâ, Sabâ Zemzeme, Segah, Müstear, Hüzzam, Evç, Evçara, Acem Aşiran, Acem Kürdi, Sultâniyegâh, Ferahfeza, Rast, Pençgâh, Mahur, Nihavend, Neveser, Nikriz, Hicazkar, Kurdilihicazkâr, Suz-i Dil…
- Introduction au Raga, système modal utilisé principalement en Inde, en Afghanistan et au Pakistan. Raga(s) : Yaman, Meg, Chandrakauns, Malkauns, Marwa, Bhairavi, Khamaj, Ahir Bhairav, Bhopali, Basan Mukhari, Jog, Puriya Kalian, Darbari Canada, Piloo, Pahari, Teelang, Kirwani, Puriya Kalian, Bhimpalasi, Todi, Madhuvanti…
- Ritmologi: pengertian tentang pola ritme Usul Utsmaniyah dan Aksak atau ritme asimetris dari Balkan, Turki, dan Yunani (5/8, 7/8, 9/8, 10/8, 11/8, 13/8, 15/8…).
- Pengenalan konsep-konsep dari sistem ritme India, Tala.
TIMETABLE: 10.00 am – 1.00 pm // 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION
- A basic knowledge of music theory is useful but not essential.
- You can attend the workshop with any rhythmic or melodic instrument, including the voice.
REGISTER NOW
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BIOGRAPHY
Multi-instrumentalist – Composer – Producer – Sound engineer
Specialising in the hurdy-gurdy and lutes of the medieval tradition in Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and Central Asia.
For over 30 years, Efrén López (València, Spain, 1972) has been involved as a composer, performer and/or producer in some of the most creative musical projects from both shores of the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Asia and European medieval traditions: Jordi Savall & Hespèrion XXI, Ross Daly, Trio Petrakis López Chemirani, L’Ham de Foc, Stelios Petrakis, Kelly Thoma, Keyvan Chemirani, Katerina Papadopoulou, Derya Türkan, Dilek Türkan, Göksel Baktagir, Sima Bina, Zohar Fresco, Michalis Kouloumis, Azam Ali, Paloma Gutiérrez del Arroyo, Arianna Savall, Capella de Ministrers, Oni Wytars, Eléonore Fourniau, Sylvain Barou, Rocío Márquez, Carles Dénia, María del Mar Bonet, Lamia Yared, Yasamin Shahhosseini, Daud Khan, Parvathy Baul, Fernando Barroso, Germán Díaz, Ziya Tabasian, Nilgün Aksoy, Ertan Tekin, Veka Aler, Arslan Hasreti, Siamak Aghaei, Pedram Khavarzamini, Kourosh Ghazvineh, Bashir Faramarzi, E. A.R., 3,14, Elena Ledda, On, Noma Omran, Zohreh Jooya, Núria Rovira Salat, Faun, Al Firdaus, InTactvs, Eloqventia, Cabra, Armand Amar, Minco Eggersman and Sandra Sangiao.
With all these ensembles, he has given concerts at the most prestigious festivals in Europe, North Africa, North and South America, the Middle East, China and the Indian subcontinent, and has taken part in the recording of over 100 CDs.
He has studied the techniques and theory of various instruments and musical systems of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and medieval music with Ross Daly, Erkan Oğur, Erol Parlak, Mehmet Erenler, Erdal Erzincan, Ömer Erdoğdular, Necati Çelik, Yurdal Tokcan, Daud Khan Sadozai, Mohammed Rahim Khushnawaz, Yasamin Shahhosseini, Keyvan Chemirani, Zohar Fresco, Isabel Martín, Araz Salek, Nigel Eaton, Maurizio Martinotti, Germán Díaz and Pascal Lefevre, among others.
As a music teacher, he has given workshops on medieval, traditional and modal music and sound engineering at:
Berklee Music School in Valencia (Spain)
Labyrinth Music School in Crete (Greece)
Labyrinth Catalunya (Spain)
Labyrinth Online
ESMUC (Barcelona, Spain)
Ethnomusicology Workshops (Geneva, Switzerland)
Ruhnu Fiddle Festival (Estonia)
Royaumont Foundation (France)
School of Persian Music (Malmö, Sweden)
…
Contact:
www.efrenlopez.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/efren.lopez.sanz/
www.facebook.com/Efren.Lopez.1972
credits photos @Laura Soriano