[Girma Yifrashewa: The Shepherd with the flute (2001)]
The African composer and pianist Girma Yifrashewa was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Oct. 15, 1967. He is the first Ethiopian classical pianist to perform widely in Africa. Married and the father of one child, he lives in Addis Ababa. Girma first saw a piano at age 16. He studied at the Yared School of Music in Addis Ababa for four years and graduated with a diploma in piano. He then received a scholarship to study at the Sofia State Conservatory of Music. The collapse of the Soviet Union ended his student stipend, but he soon received financial support from the Christian Brothers. That allowed him to return to Sofia, where he finished his studies and graduated with a Masters degree in Piano.
The governments of Germany and the United Kingdom made it possible for Girma Yifrashewa to pursue further graduate studies in piano. His bio relates: “With regard to his work experience, on his return to Ethiopia in 1995, he took up a position with the Yared School of Music as a piano teacher where he worked until 2001. He was also working at the Sheraton Addis as a Pianist for one year (2000-2001). Now Girma is involved in his private work to promote Ethiopian and Classical Music throughout the continent and beyond. On his spare time, he also gives private piano lessons to students of different age groups.”
His second classical CD is Elilta, consisting of his own compositions. It was released in 2006. All six tracks are sampled at his page at AfriClassical.com and on the Audio page of the website. Dr. Joshua Nemith discussed the CD on his Cincinnati Pianist Blog on Oct. 22, 2007: “Listen to some short samples of Yifrashewa's spacious and lovely piano compositions at his page at the AfriClassical.com website. His music incorporates traditional Ethiopian musical styles with Western harmonies and gestures. How wonderful it is that an African composer is channeling some of his own rich traditions into music for the piano!” Girma Yifrashewa
Ethiopian Composer & Piano
Elilta: Ethiopian Classical Music
The Shepherd with the Flute
Cry of Joy
Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra
No comments:
Post a Comment