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closeThursday, Oct. 22, 2009
Grigoryan Brothers Duo bring comfortable acoustic to the Modern
The hunky Grigoryan Brothers electrified the crowd with an acoustic set at the Modern.
By CHRIS SHULL
Special to dfw.com
Slava and Leonard Grigoryan, who hail from Australia, having been performing together professionally since they were kids.
FORT WORTH — Guitarists are the hardest musicians to pigeonhole, guitar recitals the hardest to categorize.
Take the Grigoryan Brothers Duo, presented by the Fort Worth Classic Guitar Society on Thursday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. A classical approach was implied, yet the Grigoryans — Slava and Leonard — played pieces that fit easily into the folk, New Age and rock genres.
Call it comfortable acoustic.
Pieces by Ralph Towner summed up an enjoyable evening. From a Dream featured wonderful shadings from both players — one note wet, the next dry; one phrase bright and ringing, the next muffled and subdued.
Tammuriata featured spindly, spiraling lines, with the pair trading sharp and tangling melodies, a dance twirling and alive. Beneath An Evening Sky was quiet and elegant.
Most of the Grigoryans’ program was devoted to modern and contemporary music, but nothing spiky or hard to hear. Anacleto de Medeiros by Brazilian Radames Gnattali progressed with a hip-swinging sway; Nartuby River by Briton William Lovelady rolled gently over searching chord changes, its sunny song turning cloudy at the end.
The duo’s virtuosity never called attention to itself. The players were equal, with melodies shared and accompaniment tossed back and forth.
On Tian Shan, by their father, Edward Grigoryan, they seemed connected telepathically — a nod launched a new tempo, a glance changed a mood. On Jongo, by Paulo Bellinati, a jaunty pace was further propelled as they slapped the bodies of their guitars.
On Debussy’s light, lovely Claire de Lune, a falling melody and luminous background were spread between the two guitars; the music breathed, the Grigoryans in sync as their shared melodies weaved gossamer strands.
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