Teryola musical band’s performance at Berlin’s Pierre Boulez Hall won thunderous applause from the audience from the first moment.
The band was co-founded by Egyptian nay player, Hany El-Badry, pianist, Mohamed Essam, and percussionist, Mohamed Arafa.
The concert at Pierre Boulez Hall was held in March. It was the band’s first ever. It was part of Arabic Music Days, a five-day musical festival that was held between March 1 and 5.
The festival was organised by renowned Iraqi Oud player Noseir Shamma.
Teryola trio performed 11 tracks, including eight that are composed by El-Badry, his record of 12 years of work.
The trio also performed the classical pieces of some late musical icons, such as ‘Enta Omry’ of Mohamed Abdel-Wahab.
They said they were surprised by the reaction of the audience at Pierre Boulez Hall.
“We were amazed by this reaction,” El-Badry told the Egyptian Mail. “We were so happy that the audience loved our music so much.”
He said at first he was afraid that European audiences would not like the nay which is a bit foreign to European ears, unlike the piano.
Surprisingly enough, however, those listening to El-Badry and his band mates merging western and eastern musical instruments together liked this mix.
Teryola derives its name from the French word ‘Triolet’, which means a three-note pattern in music notation.
The band focuses mainly on pieces composed by El-Badry over the years.
This man has been composing music for almost two decades now.
The band also depends on pieces composed by other Arab musicians, ones decided during the concerts by the nay player.
El-Badry and his colleagues in the band challenge the established rules of traditional musical formats known to Arabs.
They aspire to let music and musicians move freely between structures and melodies.
“We try to create a unique music that can enter the audiences’ hearts easily,” El-Badry said.
El-Badry is one of the nation’s top players of nay, an end-blown flute and one of the oldest instruments in Arab musical culture.
He has developed a unique style of the instrument over three decades, having composed over 100 works.
He takes the nay beyond its traditional functions and limits and explores a variety of musical forms that he presents in a highly imaginative manner.
He has also established himself as a pioneer of classical Arabic ensembles, exploring a variety of musical genres.
Teryola’s premiere in Germany is an important step in the musical journey of this new band.
Energised by its success, the band will perform at the Alexandria Library on April 14.
“We will perform the same pieces we played in Berlin,” El-Badry said. “We will also play some of the works of famous composer Omar Khairat.”
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