Evelina Petrova — accordion, vocals Laura Ellestad — Hardanger fiddle, 5-string fiddle Andreas Rotevatn — trombone, electronics
The three of us met at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo during our graduate studies. Laura was studying folk music, Andreas was taking a degree in music performance technology, and Evelina was studying improvised music/jazz. Our first rehearsals resembled a lab in which we experimented with mixing elements from three different musical worlds. With each subsequent rehearsal we became more and more inspired and fascinated by the special sound our trio produced, and by the unusual and unique musical context we were being drawn into.
Together we created arrangements of several of Evelina’s original compositions, mixing them with traditional Russian songs, Norwegian Hardanger fiddle music, and elements of electronic music. Some of this music is presented on our debut album First dance, in addition to arrangements of pieces by composers Mikhail (Misha) Alperin and Roberto Bonati. The album was recorded live in the one-room studio at the Department of Traditional Arts and Traditional Music in Rauland, Norway.
Trio created a multimedia project in which performed a live soundtrack to accompany scenes from the lm Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1965) by Soviet film director Sergei Parajanov. Parajanov, whose films invoke Ukrainian, Georgian, and Armenian folklore, was a unique voice within Soviet cinema. The original soundtrack for Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors was written by Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk and it was reimagined by Evelina Petrova Trio through the improvisational folkloric aesthetic so the score illustrates the spirit of the world music of today.
Plays for Sergey Paradjanov “Shadows of forgotten ancestors” 1964
Evelina Petrova: “My main musical interest and inspiration comes from folk music.
I see many possibilities for experimentation based on various folk traditions attracting musicians of different approaches and experience. I am incredibly attracted by the ritual base of folk music which in my opinion very naturally connects with minimalistic, contemporary and improvisational mentalities. I am incredibly attracted by Sergey Paradjanov masterpiece “Shadows of forgotten ancestors”.
All of us are different and have a spectrum of musical approaches, from classical, contemporary, rock music to jazz and folk. We are looking for the space where our own fantasy, imagination and experience help us to create dramaturgical reach and an emotionally strong musical performance.”
Misha Alperin: «This project was initiated at Norwegian Academy of Music by three master-degree students from three different faculties- folklore, jazz and electronic technologies. It is a multimedia project which is based on the film by the genius film director Sergei Parajanov «The Shadows of the Forgotten Ancestors». Although the original sound track was written by Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk, it was reimagined by Evelina Petrova for the Trio through the improvisational folkloric aesthetic so the score illustrates the spirit of the world music of today. As such, it resembles the genius of Parajanov for whom folklore of any kind always was the main source of inspiration. I believe Parajanov would be pleased to hear this project».
