Evo Eva - Ikebanah

Evo
Evo is a group of musicians, widely experienced in the fields of Early and Roots music (L’Ham de Foc,
Trio Petrakis/López/Chemirani, Els Trobadors, Aman Aman, Oni Wytars, Ross Daly & Labyrinth...) who
have dedicated this new project exclusively to Medieval music. Their philosophy regarding the interpretation
of this effectively "dead" music, leads them to investigate elements found in living traditional music, both
European and Asian, which hold some ties to our Medieval past.
In doing this, they employ a rich variety of resources —ornamentation, rhythmical patterns, improvisation
and instrumentation— which in turn creates a living aesthetic, far removed from the sterile, pseudo-academic
vision of doubtful historic accuracy in most cases, given the lack of information that has been preserved from
the period.
Eva
The Evo's first album, "Eva" (Songsurfer Records, 2013), was recorded
during different sessions in 2011 and 2012 between Spain (València, Girona
and Murcia) and the island of Crete, by the original quartet: Efrén López on
lutes, psalteries, harp, symphonia, trompette marine and production; Iván
López on vocals; Miriam Encinas on recorders, frame drums and Laia Puig
on bagpipes, recorders and shawns. They had as well the collaboration of
master percussionists Pedram Khavarzamini (Iranian tombak virtuoso),
Aleix Tobias (Spanish traditional percussions) and Diego López (Middle
East and European frame drums), and the Catalan vielle player Pau Marcos.
It contains 13 original Medieval songs arranged by Efrén López,
although in some cases, new composed passages have been added
following the rules and aesthetics of the period with few concessions to traditional elements such as Persian,
Turkish or Greek. All these tracks are dedicated to women in one way or another: The songs of the
troubadours (Jaufre Rudel, Bernat de Ventadorn, Berenguer de Palou...), two Italian stampitta's that have as a
title Italian woman's names, and one Martin Codax's cantiga de amigo.
The organic arrangements of "Eva" combine the archaic sound of the instruments made based in the
iconography of the Middle Ages with the harmonization in the style of the period, and a powerful sound of
the highest quality and modern production tools, taking profit of the benefits of the current recording
techniques by using imaginative arrangements that try not to fall into wither extremes which can be found in
today's "Early Music market”: The cold academicism of many classical trained musicians, and on the other
hand the sometimes uninformed and fanciful "Gothic Wave" experiments that have little to do with real
medieval music.
Musicians
EFRÉN LÓPEZ symphonia, lutes, harp, psalteries, trompa marina, shofar
Multiinstrumentalist, founder of Trio Petrakis/López/Chemirani, L’Ham de Foc,
Aman Aman and Sabir, and collaborator with many other musicians and groups
in the fields of Early and Roots music. (Ross Daly, Daud Khan Ensemble,
Capella de Ministrers, Maria Laffitte, Oni Wytars…). Efrén approaches the
Medieval repertory by studying the various types of modal music under the
tutelage of master teachers from Greece, Turkey, Afghanistan and India (Ross
Daly, Necati Çelik, Daud Khan, Mohammed Rahim Khusnawaz, Yurdal Tokcan,
Erol Parlak, Mehmet Erenler…). His arrangements, historically based on
Medieval music, imbue the selected repertory with a vibrant, dynamic character.
MIRIAM ENCINAS recorders, vielle, bendir, riq, davul, citole
Born in the heart of a family of Catalan musicians, Miriam was surrounded by
popular music from a very early age, with groups like Els Trobadors and L’Arc
en el Cel. She would later initiate her studies of the recorder, percussion and
viola da gamba. Her innate musicality combines the fresh outlook of a performer
brought up in an environment of traditional music with the rigour and precision
of her academic training. Some of the groups she has collaborated with are: Joi
de Trobar, Els Trobadors, Daud Khan Ensemble, Zoohreh Jooya and Afghan
Ensemble, L’Ham de Foc, Ross Daly & Labyrinth, Ensemble Athenea, and
Ensemble l’Albera.
LAIA PUIG recorders, bagpipes, shawns
Another case of academic training combined with musical roots. Laia contributes
the sound of the most powerful wind instruments to the group. Her musical
history proves her a highly flexible musician – she has a wide range of
experience in the fields of contemporary, traditional and Early music. Carles
Santos, L’Ham de Foc, Aljub or Tresmall are some of the groups she has worked
with. She studied dolçaina with Pau Puig, Alejandro Blay and Xavier Richart,
and recorder with David Antich.
IVÁN LÓPEZ voice, cittern
This is the first non-rock project for this compulsively creative multiinstrumentalist and singer. His career as a performer and arranger (The X,
Soledad Gimenez, Presuntos Implicados) is added to his work as a composer for
film and designer. His androgynous, unusual voice of incredible range gives a
distinctive quality and credibility to the Medieval repertory which is usually
performed by singers with classical training.
Live concerts
Presenting “Eva” at the Fira of Manresa, November of 2012
With L'Almodí chamber choir at the Festival de Música Antigua de León, May of 2011
With Ross Daly and Kelly Thoma at the Via Stella festival in Santiago de Compostela, July of 2012
At Ciutadella de Menorca festival, July of 2012