Was it Jazz or Classical, World or Folk Music?

It was an unusual combination of a string orchestra and a jazz band which Polish composer  and saxophonist Grzech Piotrowski brought together performing "EuropeSymphonies" at PRIX EUROPA on 23 October.

The 35 top-class musicians from eight countries played a truly unique concert using remarkable instruments like the Bulgarian shepherd’s flute, the Turkish Saz, percussion stones and a tromp. The "Grzech Piotrowski World Orchestra" took on centre stage at Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg (RBB) in Berlin during Prix Europa, the world-renowned Media competition, supported by the EBU.

The concert was introduced by EBU World Music Chair Johannes Theurer (RBB/Germany). Then the show began, with virtuoso performances of Bulgaria’s famous kaval player Theodosii Spassov, the Russian singer Sergej Starostin and Terje Isungset, the founder of the Norwegian Ice Instrument Festival. They were joined by Berlin based Saz-player Taner Akyol, Wu Wei, a world-wide acclaimed Sheng-mouth organ player and Ruth Wilhelmine Meyer from Norway with her beautiful Shaman singing voice. There were also Vladiswar Nadishana, a household name in Siberia, Guitar player Eiwind Aarset, very well known in the jazz world and Pawel Kaczmarczyk, recognized for his very exciting piano recitals. Polish folk singer Adam Strug tookmpart as well and of course band leader and sax player Grzech Piotrowski!

World music beyond categories
 
Was it Jazz? Was it World Music? Was it Classical Music? Or was it more traditional and folk music? Nobody in the sold-out audience was really bothered about categories. Spectators just enjoyed a carnival of sounds coming from all corners of Europe and beyond. They heard a mix of Slavic roots, Balkan temperament and impressions from Scandinavia, a sound never has been heard before. The “World Orchestra” played four new symphonies including scores with majestic soundscapes and exciting rhythmic patterns.

The concert was made available on Euroradio to 15 EBU broadcasting organizations: Offering organization RBB, WDR (Germany), LR (Latvia), NRK (Norway), RTP (Portugal), NPO (Netherlands), ROR (Romania), RNE (Spain), ORF (Austria), PR (Poland), RTR (Russia), BNR (Bulgaria), YLE (Finland), RTS (Serbia), ERR (Estonia). And, of course, the recorded version of "EuropeSymphonies" of Piotrowski "World Orchestra" will be offered by EBU Radio Services.