Hebros from Európe by Kairos Collective / Michiel van der Meulen
HEBROS
Hüseynî Karşılama
This composition in usul¹ aksak (9/8) could have been played monophonically, but I added a very basic chord accompaniment so that it connects the strictly modal pieces ([2], [3], [5], [7], [11]) with the ones that have elementary harmonisation ([8], [9]). The instrument used for that purpose, a Macedonian tambura, is a long-necked lute that has four strings in two doubled courses usually tuned A-A/D-D. It can be a melody instrument, with or without using the lower string as a drone, or an accompanying instrument, playing progressions of dyads. I consider it ideal for modal accompaniment. You can stick to playing fourths and fifths, avoiding clashes with microtonality, and throw in occasional seconds, thirds, sixths or sevenths to add colour.
Hebros is the ancient Greek name for the river that is now called Maritsa (Марица) in Bulgaria, Evros (Έβρος) in Greece and Meriç in Turkey. Its catchment spans most of the larger Thrace region, where eastern modality and western harmony meet and mix beautifully. The river used to connect Byzantium with Middle Europe as a trade route, but recently got to be known abroad mainly as an obstacle for Middle-Eastern refugees on a northern route to Europe. Unfortunately so.
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¹ Usul: rhythmic cycle in Turkish art music.
Kairos Collective is the occasional ensemble that Michiel van der Meulen assembles to record or perform his contemporary modal music. Kairos is the personification of the right moment, the time to act or an opportunity to be seized, encapsulating the spirit and atmosphere of the collective's sessions.