Composer
de Profundis
WORKS FOR STRING QUARTET
Catalogue No: 9.70198
Release Date: Sep 23, 2013
Dancing
with Centaurs
STORIES FOR SAXOPHONE
Catalogue No: 8.579047
Release Date: Aug 9, 2019
Inspired largely by the stories and creatures of Greek mythology, George Kontogiorgos’ music generates a mystical soundworld. His music, although primarily tonal, encompasses a broad spectrum of music from minimalism to atonality. Dancing with Centaurs contains melodic elements found in fragments of ancient Hellenic music and traditional songs from Asia Minor, interwoven with the pentatonic scale. Night Walk is redolent of the Hellenic mainland in its structure and freely expressive performance, while the Concertino ‘Testosterone’ features novel sound effects including saxophone multiphonics.
Kaleidoscope
GUITAR WORKS
Catalogue No: 8.579084
Release Date: Dec 4, 2020
Classic guitar is one of the instruments that was meticulously explored by George Kontogirgos during his youth. His work “Elegy 1980” denotes the year when his shifted composing from ballads and pop songs to contemporary music. Starting his collaboration with Pavlos Kanellakis in 2006, he become quite prolific composing for guitar. He has written several works, most of them included in this CD. The suite “Kaleidoscope”, commissioned by him. In return, he dedicated to the “Elegy 1980” and “Sea Vespers”. His works, although mostly tonal, they include fragments of other composition techniques, such as 12/tone, atonal, etc. Some of of them, reminiscent of the pop groups during the 60’, while others are based on his songs written during the 60’ and 70’. Pavlos Kanellakis has given his best to interpret these compositions, while the duet for guitar and cello enriches the unusual repertoire of these two instruments.
Odes and Cantos
Lod Byron - The beauty of a Greek
The Affliction of Love
Release Date: Dec 29, 2021
LORD BYRON - THE BEAUTY OF A GREEK, is based on poems from various collections and letters of George Gordon Byron and a tribute to him by Dionysius Solomos, the poet of the Hellenic National Anthem. Lord Byron was a passionate supporter of the Greek Revolution for Independence. He disposed of his property and dedicated his life to the struggle for national liberation. He took his last breath in Messolonghi on April 19,1824. His soul and spirit assumed a wholly Hellenic identity, which enabled him to play the role of an Apostle of the National Paligenessia. He has been rightfully included in the Pantheon of Heroes of the 1821 Revolution. THE AFFLICTION OF LOVE is a cycle of six songs by contemporary Greek poets. Most of them, dear friends of mine, have passed away. I began sketching the first songs in 1972, but my ardent desire to complete them, which tormented me intensely at times, was not fulfilled until after thirty years.
De Chirico
Piano Trios and Duets
with Galan Trio
Release Date: January 20, 2023
This collection comprises works by George Kontogiorgos for piano trio and duets, composed mostly during the last decade. Some of them are original, while others are based on his songs, converted to classical settings. The piano trio De Chirico was inspired by symbolic painter Giorgio De Chirico, who was born in Volos and lived there during his youth. The little steam train, built by his father Evaristo, on its uphill Mount Pelion journey, used to make a stop in Agria, the place where the composer lives. The duet Before the Rain starts was awarded by the renowned violinist Hilary Hahn in an international composition contest. Both Dominance and An unwithering Rose are of single movement works for piano trio. The duet Chasing the fleeting Time recalls a composer‘s experience traveling from the heavily snowed Toronto Canada to the burning desert of Tucson Arizona, whereas the duet Schifting Balances, challenges a wayward fleeting conversation between violin and cello.
