EKANAYAKA, TANYA (b. 1977)

Twelve Piano Prisms

Tanya Ekanayaka, piano

Tanya Ekanayaka’s Twelve Piano Prisms extend the concept heard on her album Reinventions: Rhapsodies for Piano (GP693). They correspond to the twelve primary notes of the keyboard, and combine Sri Lankan melodies with music from other countries in a deeply personal representation of diverse cultures; their style inspired not only by a rich heritage of Western classical and indigenous world music, but also by pop, rock and film music.

This recording was made on a modern instrument: Steinway, Model D

Tracklist

Piano Prism No. 1. E Flat - July 2016/17 (2017) * (00:04:36)

Piano Prism No. 2. B Flat - Armenia to a Pearl (2017) * (00:02:40)

Piano Prism No. 3. C - Emerald Lapwing Karpet (2017) * (00:05:36)

Piano Prism No. 4. D Flat - Intuition, Auld Lang Syne & An Asian Sacred (2017) * (00:04:14)

Piano Prism No. 5. G - With Paaru Kavi (2016) * (00:05:33)

Piano Prism No. 6. F - Renewal & Goyam Kapuma (2016) * (00:08:32)

Piano Prism No. 7. E - Arrow-and (2017) * (00:02:02)

Piano Prism No. 8. A - Zuni Sea (2017) * (00:03:23)

Piano Prism No. 9. A Flat Scintilla: Komitas Unto Childhood (2017) * (00:03:05)

Piano Prism No. 10. B - Of Vannam & Zhuang Tai Qiu Si (2017) * (00:01:56)

Piano Prism No. 11. F Sharp - Kitty & Bambaru (2016) * (00:09:45)

Piano Prism No. 12. D - Hana Hare () * (00:04:03)

World Première Recording

Total Time: 00:55:25

The Artist(s)

Dr Tanya Ekanayaka is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning Sri Lankan-British concert composer-pianist. Although trained as a pianist, her compositional skills are the result of a purely intuitive and natural development. Influenced by her multifaceted background, multilingualism, ambidexterity and partial colour synaesthesia her works which she describes as ‘deeply autobiographical’ and which evolve when she is at the piano (and at times in her dreams), have not been scored in any form but remain precisely frozen in her memory once evolved. Consistent with her interdisciplinary background, she holds a doctorate for interdisciplinary research involving Linguistics and Musicology from The University of Edinburgh, where she has also been engaged part time in academic teaching since 2007, as well as advanced academic and professional qualifications in Music Performance, Linguistics and Literature.

The Composer(s)

Reviews

“Ekanayaka certainly hits her musical mark with these piano pieces. At times contemplative, sometimes raucous, these works have been injected generously with beauty and Rachmaninoff-like technique and drama. These works are certainly recommended to pianists to program for recitals: not only do they take the audience on a lovely, dark journey through the music different cultures via the lens of a classically-trained pianist, but they sound enjoyable to play.” – American Record Guide

“It is a fact that Ekanayaka plays her “Prisms” so well that they are deconstructed into the brightest spectral colors. So they cozy up to every ear and heart, regardless how your opinion about this kind of music usually is that crosses the borders between popular and classical. Applause!” – Piano News

“The music is always beautifully performed by the composer.” – International Piano

“I come away from the initial listens to Twelve Piano Prisms quite impressed and moved by the music.” – Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music Review

“It is certainly fascinating, and Tanya Ekanayaka always plays the piano beautifully.” – Musicalifeiten

Also Available

“Ekanayaka’s semi-extemporisations vividly recall the golden age of musical ‘reminiscences’.” — BBC Music Magazine

“Musically delightful reimagining, Tanya Ekanayaka evokes something deeper—the cosmic link with the heavens that emerged from prehistory in every indigenous culture.” — Fanfare

“Makes for compelling and unexpected listening, and the works are most enjoyable.” — Records International

“[Jaberi] displays wonderful virtuosity in his playing” — American Record Guide