In Apil this year iaytraQuartet (pronounced eye-at-ra) released Break the Dawn which was a Featured Album of the Month on Folk Radio UK. The album is inspired by English poetry, Indian Ragas, memorial plaques and Arabic love songs. Today they are self-releasing a vinyl version of Break the Dawn which is to be accompanied by an online vinyl album launch concert streamed from London’s Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses, 18:00-18:45: https://www.iyatraquartet.com/event-details/break-the-dawn-vinyl-launch-concert
In his review of the album, Thomas Blake was keen to point out the importance of connections which, considering the timing of the release, made it both timely in its significance.
Today sees the release of their Vreak the Dawn on vinyl
And in the end, this exquisite album is all about connections, explicitly the connections between cultures and places that allow music like this to be created. But also – and this is more important right now – connections between individuals: between the musicians in the group, and out to the listeners. iyatraQuartet’s music is a timely reminder of that all-important link between people and their art, and Break The Dawn exists as a complex, stunningly-performed artefact that offers a little hope in dark times.
iyatraQuartet take their name from the Hindi word ‘yatra’ for ‘travel’ with a sense of a ‘pilgrimage’, a journey that started for the quartet 7 years ago. Clarinettist George Sleightholme and violinist Alice Barron met at the free improv group called Moot, started by George at The Royal Academy of Music, while doing Masters Degrees on their respective instruments. Cellist wizard, Rich Phillips from the Royal College of Music and global percussionist, Will Roberts joined them soon after and iyatraQuartet was born.
BREAK THE DAWN has both delicacy and power throughout with a wide variety of instrumentation including the lead instruments of violin (Alice Barron), bass clarinet (George Sleightholme), cello (Rich Phillips) and percussion (Will Roberts). Additional performances all from the quartet feature on bodhran, singing bowls, charango, kalimba, rice bowls, tabla and a healthy dose of sublime vocals.
Don’t miss their online vinyl labum launch this evening streamed from London’s Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses, 18:00-18:45: https://www.iyatraquartet.com/event-details/break-the-dawn-vinyl-launch-concert
iyatraQuartet online:
Website: http://www.iyatraquartet.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iyatraQuartet/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/iyatraquartet
instagram: @iyatra_quartet
Photo Credit: Gerard Collett