The Ahn Trio: The Zesty Panorama of Brazil

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Emily_Cary]Emily Cary
The Ahn Trio purveys imaginative artistry, glamor and confirmation that mainstream classical music continually evolves. Their latest CD, BraziliAHN, is is a scintillating representing a co-commission from Wolf Trap, Notre Dame University and the University of Florida.
Angella, the violinist of the sisterly ensemble that includes twins Lucia at the piano and Maria on cello, enthused about the program of works inspired by the sounds and scenes of the largest country in South America. She pointed out that Maria had this idea for a long time because she loves bossa nova and every kind of music coming out of Brazil. The three traveled there to meet the country's famous musicians. As the idea evolved, they worked with Brazilian singers and composers.
In "Landscapes," a suite written for them by Nelson Ayes, the listener is transported to Brazil and its picturesque countryside. The first of three movements, De bubuia evokes the feeling of traveling down a river, perhaps the Amazon, listening to surrounding sounds. The second, Mantiqueira, was inspired by an enormous mountain range, home to a lush environment, while the third movement, Agreste, depicts the hot, dry region of Northeastern Brazil through energy and rhythm. The centerpiece of the album, it is joined by arrangements of Brazilian folk songs and works infused with bossa nova, samba and other rhythms native to the country.
Born in Korea, the sisters moved to New York City in 1981 to attend the Juilliard School's pre-college program. Once they arrived, they were exposed to jazz and other styles of music that caught their fancy and opened new horizons. As teenagers, they never intended to become a trio. It was not until they were working on their master's degrees that the idea finally clicked.
Their family was not particularly musical. Their mother enjoyed music, but she was a writer and their father had a publishing business. Lucia was the leading force. She saw a piano in her Kindergarten class and would not leave it alone, so the teacher encouraged her mother to get her a piano. Afterward, Marie and Angella picked their instruments at random and began practicing. Like all Koreans, they knew they must work hard at their hobbies.
Since striking out as an ensemble, they have deliberately sought out works by an eclectic group of composers, among them Pat Metheny, Kenji Bunch, Nicolai Kapustin, David Balikrishnan and Mark O'Connor. Ever adventurous, they collaborated with the Parson Dance Company in a highly acclaimed program of original choreography and music. They are currently working on a similar program with Nai-Ni Chen, a cross-cultural contemporary dance company.
Earlier this year, they were greeted like rock stars during their sold-out tour of the Czech Republic with Tata Bojs, the country's award-winning rock band, performing music from "Smetana," the album they recorded together. Upon arrival, they could not believe that ten thousand people were chanting their names.
Emily Cary is a prize-winning teacher and novelist whose articles about entertainers appear regularly in the DC Examiner. She is a genealogist, an avid traveler, and a researcher who incorporates landscapes, cultures and the power of music in her books and articles.
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