Jubovski - The Esterhazy Connection
Josef Haydn spent the summers of every year from 1761 until 1790 at Esterhazy in the isolation of the Hungarian countryside. Isolated from the mainstream of classical music, he is known to have spent much of his time in the company of gypsy musicians, and the influence of gypsy music on many of Haydn's works has never been in doubt. But recently scholars have suggested that the influence of Haydn may have been a catalyst for the remarkable flowering of gypsy fiddle music in Hungary during the 19th century. Judge for yourselves, and hold on to the edge of your seats as the three members of Jubovski take you on a thrilling musical journey from Haydn's Gypsy Rondo piano trio through Eastern European folk music to the present day, full of wild virtuoso fiddling alternating heart-rending melodies, all presented and performed In the stile of the gipsies.
REVIEWS
"Liz Cowdrey's nifty violin was stunning." - (The Independent)
"strong resonances of the gypsy spirit and the tremendous swing of Stefan Grappelli's violin" - (Hi-Fi World)
"Amazing and innovative, a hugely enjoyable concert" - Roger Huckle (CEO and Artistic director, Emerald Ensemble)
BIOGRAPHIES
Liz Cowdrey violin
Liz is dedicated to spreading the gypsy spirit through violin playing. While at school in Oxford, she was the first student to win three medals from the Associated Board of Royal Schools of music, Gold for violin and bassoon, silver in piano. After a B.Mus from Manchester University and further study and orchestral work in Italy, Liz went on to research and transcribe string music on her travels through Eastern Europe, studying with the best fiddlers in several folk traditions. For many years Liz fronted the world music group Orbestra, giving concerts on the international circuit.
Peter Cowdrey piano
He scrawled down his first five bar composition at the age of three, and later went on to win a music scholarship to Winchester College and Trinity College, Cambridge. He studied composition with Oliver Knussen. After leaving
Cambridge he spent three years in the South Pacific, helping to start up the performing arts department at 'Atenisi University in the Kingdom of Tonga and recording Polynesian music.
As composer his commissions include Land of the Prophets for flute and strings, written for Wissam Boustany and premiered at the Royal Albert Hall and A Garden Amidst Flames for combined Western and Turkish classical musicians, commissioned by the Istanbul Festival. He recently completed a string quartet for The Brodskys, and is writing an Opera based on Michael Broadbent’s Wine Diaries, for Christie’s. As pianist Peter played Charles Ives’ First Piano Sonata on tour in South America, and this year will be touring with baritone Henry Herford in a programme including his own settings of Wordsworth’s Lucy Poems. His other musical interests including the acoustics of birdsong and of Neolithic buildings.
Jub double bass
Jubs career has covered a wide range of musical styles. He's worked in avant-garde theatre with Station House Opera, been a member the Indie pop group The Band of Holy Joy, as well as working with more conventional groups like English National Opera, London Contemporary Dance Theatre and the London Chamber Orchestra. He also co-founded the prize winning Kreisler String Orchestra which went on to win the 1986 Jeunesses Musicales Competition in Belgrade.
Jub has been a longstanding member of the Carnival Band. He can often be seen playing and singing with them and their long-time collaborator Maddy Prior. Over the years he has worked with many notable artists including Youssou N'Dour, Tanita Tikaram, Abdullah Ibrahim, Brian Eno, Sting, Joss Pook, DJ Krust, Zero 7,the Brodsky and Duke string quartets. He is a founder member of the Adderbury Ensemble in Oxfordshire and the Emerald Ensemble in Bristol. He has taken up the challenge of contemporary music with groups such as Opus 20, Lontano and Ixion. However, to take time out he really enjoys a good forty-mile bike ride!