Programme
Jai Ho – A Rahman
Divertimento in D Major KV.136 – Mozart
Trio D.471 – Schubert
Teen Taal - Mendi Singh
Adam’s Peak – Vinthya Perinpanathan
Lodi (from “Veer Zaara) – Lataji, Narayan & Mann
Raga Mela- Kuljit Bhamra
Himalaya - Kuljit Bhamra
Spiders Tango - Kuljit Bhamra
Eastern Landscapes - Kuljit Bhamra & Davide Giovannini
Dervish - Kuljit Bhamra
Jai Ho – A Rahman
Divertimento in D Major KV.136 – Mozart
Trio D.471 – Schubert
Teen Taal - Mendi Singh
Adam’s Peak – Vinthya Perinpanathan
Lodi (from “Veer Zaara) – Lataji, Narayan & Mann
Raga Mela- Kuljit Bhamra
Himalaya - Kuljit Bhamra
Spiders Tango - Kuljit Bhamra
Eastern Landscapes - Kuljit Bhamra & Davide Giovannini
Dervish - Kuljit Bhamra
"Jai Ho" is a song composed by A.R. Rahman for the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire, featuring Dev Patel and Freida Pinto. When Danny Boyle, the director of Slumdog Millionaire, approached Rahman to compose its soundtrack, he included the song "Jai Ho", which accompanies a choreographed dance sequence at the end credits of the film. Indian singer Tanvi Shah wrote and provided vocals for an English section of the song. "Jai Ho" is a Hindi phrase which means "Victory ensues."
Divertimento in D Major KV.136 – Mozart
Mozart composed the Divertimento, K. 136, during down-time in Salzburg in the winter of 1772, following two extended periods in Italy. During those visits, his dramatic works had found particular success, and he spent most of his time in Salzburg working on a new opera for Milan for the 1773 carnival season. The work, Lucio Silla, was the 16-year-old Mozart's most ambitious Italian-language serious opera to date, and the Divertimento, K. 136 (one of three such works Mozart composed during the winter of 1772), was probably a nice way to blow off some steam, musical yoga for a stressed-out composer.
This Divertimento is in three movements, fast-slow-fast.
The opening Allegro centres around a delightful, charming theme that ends with an amusing little dynamic retreat. The Andante is typically warm and elegant, and a spirited Presto finale brings the Divertimento to a close.
Trio D.471 – Schubert
During the autumn of 1816, Schubert had finally quitted his much-loathed teaching post and moved in with his close friend Franz Schober. Away from his overcrowded and repressive family home, sharing accommodation with a charismatic young man whose experience of life was far wider than his own, and in a vastly improved frame of mind, Schubert began to pour forth new compositions, including this String Trio during the September. He wrote three string trios, all of them in the key of B-flat major, but only finished the first movement of this one. This miniature gem is one of the most treasured works in the string repertoire.
Tabla Solo by Mendi Singh
Performed in a rhythm cycle called Teen Taal, inspired by North Indian classical drumming. In this solo, he will both recite and perform the rhythms.
Adam’s Peak by Vinthya Perinpanathan
Sri Pada is the first cross-cultural work of interdisciplinary musician Vinthya Perinpanathan. The piece combines the cello and tabla, revisiting and depicting the the composer’s first pilgrimage to the top of Sri Pada mountain with her mother in April 2017. The piece begins with an improvisatory, percussive passage accompanied by a cello drone, reminiscent of numerous South Asian music traditions. The music moves into a melodic section, repeated in the upper octave; as the climb becomes more strenuous, so does the sound. At the top of the mountain lies a temple and a footprint (with different religions believing it belongs to a their own figure of worship). Ceremonial music was performed following a beautiful sunrise on the morning of the composer’s visit, and to have visited with her mother was a special experience.
This piece marks Vinthya’s first exploration of music from her Sri Lankan heritage. This spiritual experience — and her name’s meaning of ‘mountain’ — compelled her to archive this memory in music.
The song "Lodi" from the Bollywood movie Veer-Zaara (also known as Lohri) is sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Udit Narayan, and Gurdas Maan. The music was composed by the late Madan Mohan, and the lyrics were written by Javed Akhtar.
Veer-Zaara (Hindi: वीर-ज़ारा, Urdu: ویر زارا) is a 2004 film directed by Yash Chopra. It is a romance set against the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan.
Kuljit Bhamra
Captivating And Seductive Soundscapes.
Interweaving polyrhythms entwine with melodic strings to transport you on a journey to mountains, deserts and lost temples. A distinctive and evocative sound world that is sometimes energetic and sometimes delicately melancholic.
Kuljit Bhamra MBE Hon DMus (born 1959) is a British composer, record producer and musician whose main instrument is the tabla. He is best known as one of the record producers who pioneered the British Bhangra sound and for his many collaborations with musicians from different genres and continents.
Raga Mela
A composition based on three ragas (mood scales). The first two depict heavy Indian grey skies just before the Indian monsoon season. Then, joyous rainfall as the clouds burst. Composer Kujit Bhamra says "I have kept the musical integrity of the piece so that all counterparts and harmonies follow their respective rules of traditional Raga performance".
Himalaya
A boundary divides regions, peoples and cultures - however, it could also be said that it is the place where they meet. Himalaya is a piece that has both Indian and Chinese influences. Bhamra describes his inspiration for writing as 'being fascinated by the concept of geographical boundaries and lines in the sand'.
Spiders Tango
Kuljit Bhamra and drummer Davide Giovanini explored intricate polyrhythms and new Taala (time signatures) by imagining what it would be like for a spider to dance!
Eastern Landscapes
Caves, lost temples, jungles and mystery inspired Kuljit and Davide to create this piece.
Dervish Dancer
A composition evoking meditative, spinning sufi dancing of Turkey.
Divertimento in D Major KV.136 – Mozart
Mozart composed the Divertimento, K. 136, during down-time in Salzburg in the winter of 1772, following two extended periods in Italy. During those visits, his dramatic works had found particular success, and he spent most of his time in Salzburg working on a new opera for Milan for the 1773 carnival season. The work, Lucio Silla, was the 16-year-old Mozart's most ambitious Italian-language serious opera to date, and the Divertimento, K. 136 (one of three such works Mozart composed during the winter of 1772), was probably a nice way to blow off some steam, musical yoga for a stressed-out composer.
This Divertimento is in three movements, fast-slow-fast.
The opening Allegro centres around a delightful, charming theme that ends with an amusing little dynamic retreat. The Andante is typically warm and elegant, and a spirited Presto finale brings the Divertimento to a close.
Trio D.471 – Schubert
During the autumn of 1816, Schubert had finally quitted his much-loathed teaching post and moved in with his close friend Franz Schober. Away from his overcrowded and repressive family home, sharing accommodation with a charismatic young man whose experience of life was far wider than his own, and in a vastly improved frame of mind, Schubert began to pour forth new compositions, including this String Trio during the September. He wrote three string trios, all of them in the key of B-flat major, but only finished the first movement of this one. This miniature gem is one of the most treasured works in the string repertoire.
Tabla Solo by Mendi Singh
Performed in a rhythm cycle called Teen Taal, inspired by North Indian classical drumming. In this solo, he will both recite and perform the rhythms.
Adam’s Peak by Vinthya Perinpanathan
Sri Pada is the first cross-cultural work of interdisciplinary musician Vinthya Perinpanathan. The piece combines the cello and tabla, revisiting and depicting the the composer’s first pilgrimage to the top of Sri Pada mountain with her mother in April 2017. The piece begins with an improvisatory, percussive passage accompanied by a cello drone, reminiscent of numerous South Asian music traditions. The music moves into a melodic section, repeated in the upper octave; as the climb becomes more strenuous, so does the sound. At the top of the mountain lies a temple and a footprint (with different religions believing it belongs to a their own figure of worship). Ceremonial music was performed following a beautiful sunrise on the morning of the composer’s visit, and to have visited with her mother was a special experience.
This piece marks Vinthya’s first exploration of music from her Sri Lankan heritage. This spiritual experience — and her name’s meaning of ‘mountain’ — compelled her to archive this memory in music.
The song "Lodi" from the Bollywood movie Veer-Zaara (also known as Lohri) is sung by Lata Mangeshkar, Udit Narayan, and Gurdas Maan. The music was composed by the late Madan Mohan, and the lyrics were written by Javed Akhtar.
Veer-Zaara (Hindi: वीर-ज़ारा, Urdu: ویر زارا) is a 2004 film directed by Yash Chopra. It is a romance set against the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan.
Kuljit Bhamra
Captivating And Seductive Soundscapes.
Interweaving polyrhythms entwine with melodic strings to transport you on a journey to mountains, deserts and lost temples. A distinctive and evocative sound world that is sometimes energetic and sometimes delicately melancholic.
Kuljit Bhamra MBE Hon DMus (born 1959) is a British composer, record producer and musician whose main instrument is the tabla. He is best known as one of the record producers who pioneered the British Bhangra sound and for his many collaborations with musicians from different genres and continents.
Raga Mela
A composition based on three ragas (mood scales). The first two depict heavy Indian grey skies just before the Indian monsoon season. Then, joyous rainfall as the clouds burst. Composer Kujit Bhamra says "I have kept the musical integrity of the piece so that all counterparts and harmonies follow their respective rules of traditional Raga performance".
Himalaya
A boundary divides regions, peoples and cultures - however, it could also be said that it is the place where they meet. Himalaya is a piece that has both Indian and Chinese influences. Bhamra describes his inspiration for writing as 'being fascinated by the concept of geographical boundaries and lines in the sand'.
Spiders Tango
Kuljit Bhamra and drummer Davide Giovanini explored intricate polyrhythms and new Taala (time signatures) by imagining what it would be like for a spider to dance!
Eastern Landscapes
Caves, lost temples, jungles and mystery inspired Kuljit and Davide to create this piece.
Dervish Dancer
A composition evoking meditative, spinning sufi dancing of Turkey.
The Dionysus Ensemble
Violin 1 - Robert Gibbs
Violin 2 - Helen Davies
Viola - Claire Newton
Cello - Léonie Adams
Tabla - Mendi Singh
Storytelling Music for Social Change
Music to inspire, provoke discussion, educate, illuminate
A virtuosic chamber ensemble with a string quartet at its core, The Dionysus Ensemble is equally at home on the concert platform, playing for events in both formal and informal settings, as well as providing music education projects.
In 2021 The Dionysus Ensemble received a Royal Philharmonic Society Award
In 2018 TDE was appointed the first ever professional musical ensemble to be officially attached to the Commonwealth – TDE are Ensemble In Association for accredited music organisation The Commonwealth Resounds.
As part of TDE’s Commonwealth work, the ensemble has delivered a Music for Social Change outreach project in The Solomon Islands & delivered an instrumental project bringing school children together as part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival.
TDE was honoured to be selected to play at the Commonwealth Day service in 2019 which was broadcast live internationally from Westminster Abbey by the BBC, after which, founder & Artistic Director Léonie Adams was presented to HM The Queen and senior members of the Royal Family & Government at the request of The Palace.
Since then TDE has been invited to perform at private events for the Royal Commonwealth Society and at Marlborough House for Secretary-General Patricia Scotland including for the inaugural Commonwealth Day Heads of State Banquet in 2020.
In 2020, The Commonwealth Secretariat commissioned TDE to create an online Commonwealth musical video with performers from each member nation coming together during the pandemic -
the United Commonwealth Covid Music Project,
which was followed in 2022 by a pan Commonwealth music video for the Platinum Jubilee -
New Every Morning
The Dionysus Ensemble was commissioned by the Mayor of London in 2021 as part of his
"Let's Do London" campaign, to provide a series of interactive PopUp performances
in central London mainline train stations.
From 2013-20, the string team from The Dionysus Ensemble ran three not for profit interactive children's concert series, & TDE has delivered many outreach projects, including on poetry & music with vulnerable teenagers in Slough, a climate change music project for Jesuit Missions in three of their UK schools & a workshop & performance project with children & community groups for HOMESlough as part of the
COP26 climate change summit.
In 2023, TDE became official partners with Slough Music Service.
TDE has also released world premiere recordings of "lost" music by William Herschel to critical acclaim.
Trio Sonatas as part of the bicentenary celebrations in 2022 for William Herschel
- featured in the StoryTrails app for Slough,
Violin Sonatas with Violoncello in 2023
& Concerto in C major for Violin in 2024.
TDE music has been broadcast on:
Europe: UK - BBC1, World Service, BBC Radio 3, Scala Radio, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Berkshire,
Ireland - RTÉ Lyric FM, Malta - NET TV, Switzerland - Radio Swiss
Pacific: Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, Fijian Broadcasting Corporation,
New Zealand - RNZ Concert, Australia - ABC Classic, Fine Music Sydney & 3MBS Fine Music
Africa: South Africa Broadcasting Corporation, Fine Music Radio & RSG Radio
Asia: India - WION TV, Bangladesh - News Bangla 24
Caribbean & Americas: Guyana - National Communications Network & Hot FM,
Caribbean Media Corporation
Violin 1 - Robert Gibbs
Violin 2 - Helen Davies
Viola - Claire Newton
Cello - Léonie Adams
Tabla - Mendi Singh
Storytelling Music for Social Change
Music to inspire, provoke discussion, educate, illuminate
A virtuosic chamber ensemble with a string quartet at its core, The Dionysus Ensemble is equally at home on the concert platform, playing for events in both formal and informal settings, as well as providing music education projects.
In 2021 The Dionysus Ensemble received a Royal Philharmonic Society Award
In 2018 TDE was appointed the first ever professional musical ensemble to be officially attached to the Commonwealth – TDE are Ensemble In Association for accredited music organisation The Commonwealth Resounds.
As part of TDE’s Commonwealth work, the ensemble has delivered a Music for Social Change outreach project in The Solomon Islands & delivered an instrumental project bringing school children together as part of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Cultural Festival.
TDE was honoured to be selected to play at the Commonwealth Day service in 2019 which was broadcast live internationally from Westminster Abbey by the BBC, after which, founder & Artistic Director Léonie Adams was presented to HM The Queen and senior members of the Royal Family & Government at the request of The Palace.
Since then TDE has been invited to perform at private events for the Royal Commonwealth Society and at Marlborough House for Secretary-General Patricia Scotland including for the inaugural Commonwealth Day Heads of State Banquet in 2020.
In 2020, The Commonwealth Secretariat commissioned TDE to create an online Commonwealth musical video with performers from each member nation coming together during the pandemic -
the United Commonwealth Covid Music Project,
which was followed in 2022 by a pan Commonwealth music video for the Platinum Jubilee -
New Every Morning
The Dionysus Ensemble was commissioned by the Mayor of London in 2021 as part of his
"Let's Do London" campaign, to provide a series of interactive PopUp performances
in central London mainline train stations.
From 2013-20, the string team from The Dionysus Ensemble ran three not for profit interactive children's concert series, & TDE has delivered many outreach projects, including on poetry & music with vulnerable teenagers in Slough, a climate change music project for Jesuit Missions in three of their UK schools & a workshop & performance project with children & community groups for HOMESlough as part of the
COP26 climate change summit.
In 2023, TDE became official partners with Slough Music Service.
TDE has also released world premiere recordings of "lost" music by William Herschel to critical acclaim.
Trio Sonatas as part of the bicentenary celebrations in 2022 for William Herschel
- featured in the StoryTrails app for Slough,
Violin Sonatas with Violoncello in 2023
& Concerto in C major for Violin in 2024.
TDE music has been broadcast on:
Europe: UK - BBC1, World Service, BBC Radio 3, Scala Radio, BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Berkshire,
Ireland - RTÉ Lyric FM, Malta - NET TV, Switzerland - Radio Swiss
Pacific: Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, Fijian Broadcasting Corporation,
New Zealand - RNZ Concert, Australia - ABC Classic, Fine Music Sydney & 3MBS Fine Music
Africa: South Africa Broadcasting Corporation, Fine Music Radio & RSG Radio
Asia: India - WION TV, Bangladesh - News Bangla 24
Caribbean & Americas: Guyana - National Communications Network & Hot FM,
Caribbean Media Corporation
