Doors open at 7pm- Concert starts at 7:30pm There will be a 20 minute intermission.
Trendafilka is a modern exploration of European polyphonic traditions. Founded in New Orleans in 2016, the ensemble emerged from a shared interest in group singing and a common fascination with culture and ancient traditions. Trendafilka, named after the Balkan wild rose, draws its repertoire from areas of Eastern Europe — the Balkans, the Baltics, the Caucasus, and the Eurasian Steppe — that hold rich cultural traditions of polyphonic singing.
Polyphony, from Greek polyphōnos (“many voices”) is a style of music that has been found throughout the world since ancient times. Predating Western harmony, polyphonic music is both ancient and enduring, and nearly universal, found on almost every continent on Earth. Trendafilka’s sound is often described as textured and weaving, as the style of singing requires both independence and interdependence: multiple voices carry distinct melodic lines, each contributing to the song’s rich textural whole. A “lawful coexistence” of voices, polyphonic music requires the performer as well as the listener to perceive multiple independent melodies as they simultaneously occur.
Trendafilka’s performances feature songs from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Greece, and Georgia, arranged in three to five distinct vocal lines. Dissonances and harmonies weave and swell through each piece, exploring timeless human themes: grief, love, loss, humor, magic. Shifting between styles with ease, the singers shape their eleven unique voices into a unified sound, creating a musical tapestry greater than the sum of its original parts.
Members (current):
Anaïs Adair • Renee Anderson • Lou Carrig • Oak Fate • Annalisa Kelly • Grace Kennedy • Maria Rowińska • Elisabeth Stancioff • Phoebe Vlassis • Eleanor Warner
Select Press Quotes:
“Captivating music that transcends borders and traditions.” — OffBeat Magazine
“Beautiful, textured and sometimes intriguingly dissonant… guaranteed to give you goosebumps.” — The Gambit / Times-Picayune
“Showcases the dissonant harmonies, melodic resonance, and rhythmic complexity of a universally appreciated regional tradition.” — Songlines Magazine
“Distinct voices combine seamlessly… a rich and textured sound.” — World Music Central
“A wild incantation of seasonal rituals… travels through time and space, right into a listener’s gut.” — Antigravity
“An utter joy of a record… utterly amazing and uplifting.” — Green Man Review
“Beautiful and powerful and often a bit eerie… dense, chromatic harmonies.” — CD Hot List “Multilayered, world-class performance.” — Midwest Book Review
