Georges Ivanovitch Gurdjieff, philosopher and composer of Armenian origin born in 1866, collected sacred pieces from many monasteries in different regions of Asia (India, Tibet, Turkey, etc.), which he then performed himself at the Indian harmonium.

Many years later, he played them as an exercise in active meditation to one of his disciples, Nicolas de Hartmann (renowned Russian musician, pupil of Nicolaï Rimsky Korsakov and whose work was acclaimed by Tsar Nicolas II), responsible for transcribing them into dictation after a single listening. He also had to simultaneously compose a left hand, based on the traditional rhythm that Gurdjieff tapped for him on the edges of his harmonium. The result was a grandiose classical repertoire for solo piano.

The project of Gurdjieff Oriental Quartet is to interpret this repertoire as Gurdjieff might have heard it in the oriental monasteries (themes interspersed with solos and preludes in the corresponding modes) while exploiting the harmonization written by de Hartmann. 

In addition to the use of typically Indian instruments (bansuri flute, tablas and Indian harmonium), the choice to use the violin and the fretless baritone guitar (both nevertheless already integrated into the Indian instrumentarium since English colonization) comes from this that these instruments can bring the harmony written by de Hartmann while playing glissando as required by Indian music.

Fabian Beghin – bansuri flute, Indian harmonium, arrangements
Nicolas Dechêne – fretless baritone guitar
Martin Lauwers – violin and bass violin
Balakumar Paramalingam – mrindingam

Tickets € 10 / € 7 (regular)  / € 5  (students)

Depending on the limit of available places, reservations are strongly recommended via reservations@lanvert.be

Source : Lanvert Website