Kay Meek Arts Centre
Please note: The Golden Road is excluded from our subscription ticket offer.
Artists: Homayoun Sakhi, rubab; Shashank Subramanyam, flute; Kiya Tabassian, setar; Hamin Honari, tombak
The Golden Road takes us on the sublime and sophisticated musical roads of ancient civilizations. Three music masters from Afghanistan, India and Iran come together to transcend the ancestral melodies from these rich and influential cultures. These three musical traditions have always evolved in a relationship of confluence and exchange, but have rarely been heard side by side. The great ambassador of Afghan music Homayoun Sakh, an incomparable virtuoso of the rubab lute, is with Maestro Shashank, hailed one of the best Bamboo Flute artists by the Indian and international media. They are joined by Kiya Tabassian, virtuoso of another emblematic lute, the setar, and their performances will be enriched and accompanied by the dazzling playing of the percussionist Hamin Honari on tombak & daf.
This concert is generously sponsored by Marianne Gibson
Kiya will introduce his programme from the stage in place of a programme and programme notes.
Homayoun Sakhi, rubab
Homayoun Sakhi is the most outstanding Afghan rubâb player of his generation, a brilliant virtuoso endowed with charismatic musical presence and personality. Born in Kabul into one of Afghanistan’s leading musical families; from the age of 10 he studied the rubâb - a double-chambered lute and the national instrument of Afghanistan. In 1992 he and his family moved to Peshwar, Pakistan seeking refuge from the war that racked his country. There he quickly became a popular entertainer performing on radio and television alongside many of Pakistan’s well-known singers and musicians. In 2001 he moved to Fremont, CA in the US - a city known for its large Afghani community. There he quickly established himself as a teacher, performer and composer. He has created works for the Kronos Quartet and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and regularly collaborates with celebrated musicians such as Yo Y Ma and Ustad Farida Mahwash.
Shashank Subramanyam, flute
Shashank Subramanyam began performing for the general public at the age of six. Trained by his father Subramanyam and vocal legends R.K. Srikantan, K.V. Narayanaswami and Pandit Jasraj, he is presently considered one of the best bamboo flute artists - hailed by Indian and international media alike. With more than 30 years of a successful career in the field of Indian Classical Music, Mr. Subramaniam has collaborated with many legendary musicians from India and around the world including guitarist John McLaughlin and tabla master Zakir Hussain. He has enthralled audiences in more than 50 countries. In 2009 he received a Grammy nomination. Other honours include ‘A Top’ ranking by All India Radio and TV, ’Kalaimamani’ from the Government of Tamil Nadu (2001), ’Kuzhal Arasar’ from Kellogg School of Management, to name a few. Mr. Subramaniam has more than 65 CDs and several DVDs to his credit.
Kiya Tabassian, setar
In 1990, at age 14, Kiya Tabassian emigrated with his family to Quebec from his native Iran, bringing with him some initial musical training in Persian music. Determined to become a musician and composer, he continued his education in Persian music, studying with Reza Gassemi and Kayhan Kalhor. At the same time, he studied composition at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal with Gilles Tremblay. In 1998, he co-founded Constantinople with the idea of developing an ensemble for musical creation that draws from the heritage of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, of Europe, and of the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Serving as its artistic director, Kiya has developed close to 40 programs with Constantinople. Numerous musical groups and institutions have called upon his talents as a composer, including the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne and the European Broadcasting Union. He has also composed music for documentary and feature films, including Jabaroot and Voices of the Unheard. Since the summer of 2017, he has held the post of Associate Artist at Rencontres musicales de Conques festival in France. In 2017 he co-founded the Centre des musiciens du monde in Montreal. Kiya also sits on the Board of Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec.
Hamin Honari, tombak
Hamin Honari is a highly acclaimed percussionist from Iran, known for his unique and inventive approach to Persian music. Born in Zahedan, Mr. Honari comes from a family of musicians – his father and grandfather being prominent figures in the local music scene.He started his musical education at an early age, learning how to play the tombak, a traditional Persian hand drum, from Ramin Bahrami. He quickly developed a deep passion for percussion and began exploring a variety of rhythms and styles, both within and beyond Persian music. He has been an active participant in the dynamic music scene of Vancouver, performing with various ensembles and collaborating with musicians from diverse backgrounds.
His music blends traditional Persian techniques and rhythms with elements of jazz, classical, and other genres. Mr. Honari is renowned for his captivating live performances, characterized by a powerful and dynamic playing style paired with his ability to emotionally connect with audiences. His work has helped to promote and introduce the rich and vibrant tradition of Persian music to audiences around the globe. He has released several albums showcasing his innovative and boundary-pushing approach to percussion and composition.
