Folk songs provide us with a window into the emotional, social, and political landscapes of cultures from the past and present. They do so in a way that is intuitive and emotionally moving, and through the stories and melodies of folk songs, we can gain a deeper understanding of the diverse experiences and perspectives of different cultures and peoples. We embark on a journey, from flamenco-inspired Spanish songs to arrangements of German, English, and Hungarian folk songs. The centerpiece of the programme is the song cycle “Tell them” (2023), inspired by the theme of folksong, written specifically for Duo Amaris by Brazilian composer João Luiz. It is set to texts by the Marshallese poet Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner, concentrating on themes such as cultural belonging, home(lessness), womanhood and climate justice.
Program
Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
Seven German folksongs, arr. Jesse Flowers
Bela Bartók (1881–1945)
Five Hungarian Folksongs: Magyar Népdalok BB42, arr. Jesse Flowers
Benjamin Britten (1913–1976)
Three Folk Songs: Folksong arrangements vl. 6 – England
João Luiz (*1979)
Tell them (2023, written for Duo Amaris) – Poems by Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner
Federico García Lorca (1898–1936)
Five Spanish folksongs: Canciones españolas antiguas
Duration of playing time: ca. 60 Min
