When choosing the title of this album, the two performers were immediately drawn to the title of the first piece in our recording, Dhipli Zyia by Xenakis, which simply translates as ‘a band of two folk musicians’. After delving more deeply, they discovered that Zyia derives from the ancient Greek word ‘balance’, which is such a vitally important element of chamber music, and indeed – in any relationship. Fittingly, Zyia is also another name for Hera, the Goddess of marriage from ancient Greek mythology, and this album symbolises an important part of a journey for us – not only as partners in chamber music – but also as a celebration of our friendship…
The recording centres around pieces which celebrate the joy and vibrancy of folk music, opening with music by Xenakis from the Balkans in Greece, Jonian’s birthplace, then venturing north to Hungary for the Kodály, west to Switzerland/France for the Sonatina by Honegger and finally returning to Greece for a rarely performed Duo by Skalkottas. © CAvi-Music