Trikala Jati for JB
Jonathan Bernard, percussion
Ashvini Sundaram, dancer
Dr. Curtis Andrews, composer
Statement from the composer:
"I have known Jonathan Bernard (percussion) for almost
as long as I have lived in Vancouver (since 2009) and we have shared many
stories of travel over these years. One place which captured Jonathan's
imagination was Southern India and the amazing way that rhythm and time
are expressed in the arts and cosmology there. Knowing his admiration for this
musical language and my background within that musical world, "Trikala
Jati" was composed for Jonathan with the knowledge that Ashvini Sundaram
(dance) would be participating as well. Given this pairing, I chose to compose
a "jati", which is a type of "pure dance" form in bharatanatyam,
one of the classical dance genres of India. A characteristic feature of this
form is the rendition of the same theme in three different
speeds/densities ("trikala"), while also allowing for variation and
ornamentation within that theme. In this case, we employed a greater use of
space in the languid opening section in terms of sound and movement. This
contrasts nicely with the density and more intricate sections that follow as
time contracts and the rhythmic material and movement becomes denser, excited
and climactic."