In complex times, Piris Eliyahu finds harmony in new music piece

Composer and musical innovator Piris Eliyahu is set to unveil his latest creation, “Advat” (Ripples) — a work where East meets West in an intimate family performance.

The new performance, which will premiere on August 21 at Jerusalem’s Confederation House under the direction of Effie Benaya, will feature his wife, pianist Larissa Eliyahu, and double bass player Daniel Avrin.

Drawing on maqam, an Eastern system of musical scales that expresses power or a struggle between forces, Eliyahu contrasts it with a comforting ballad.

“As an artist in these complicated times, a composition is a kind of report card for what’s happening inside me and around me and in the society in which I live,” said Eliyahu, 65, who has been composing music since he was 15. “I’m reacting to what’s in society and bringing it to my work.”

Eliyahu is considered one of the greatest Israeli musicians working in the realm between East and West. His music reflects an evolving language he describes as “post-East and West.”

It’s his method of musical composition, and it is how he instructed his son, Mark Eliyahu, a player of the kamancheh, saz, and violin who is perhaps best known to mainstream audiences as the composer of the theme music for the award-winning TV show “Tehran.”

“It’s the job of a musician in times like these,” said the senior Eliyahu. “We thought people wouldn’t come to performances during the war, but they come, it’s the only place where words and feelings really emerge. They need it.”

Eliyahu spoke about the pleasures of working closely with his family members.

He taught Mark how to play Balkan musical instruments and has long performed in his musical ensembles.

“We’re colleagues and friends for many years,” he said. “I tried to be a tough father, but I chose to be a friend instead.”

Eliyahu grew up in Derbent, Dagestan, a republic of Russia situated in the North Caucasus region. He met Larissa at Russia’s Rostov Music Academy when they were teens. The couple always made music together, playing four hands on piano, running through Haydn and Mozart at home.

“We’ve been playing together since I’m 17,” said Eliyahu.

He says it was Larissa who was the benevolent musical taskmaster with their son, getting Mark to practice the violin and sitting with him as he reviewed scales and notes. Eliyahu began teaching him how to play the other, more ancient Middle Eastern instruments after his bar mitzvah.

Eliyahu has focused mostly on Eastern music since the family moved to Israel in 1989, while Larissa has remained in the Western musical tradition.

It was during the coronavirus pandemic that Eliyahu began composing for himself and Larissa together, for piano, tar and contrabass, and they began playing as a trio with Daniel Avrin.

“Instead of watching TV [during the pandemic], we started playing,” said Eliyahu.

Composing and performing with his wife is “a huge pleasure,” he said. “Larissa is a very gentle soul. I got used to the music industry and musicians and the intensity of all that. This is much more gentle, you have to think about every word you use, you don’t want to be too critical.”

Performing together has meant that they rehearse every day. “We’re husband and wife and friends since we were teens and that connection is now coming to fruition,” said Eliyahu. “It’s an intimate process that we created together, and that we’re bringing to the audience.”

The connection to contrabass player Daniel also runs deeper: His father, percussionist Roni Avrin, plays in Mark’s ensemble.

The whole process is “sincere and gentle and real,” said Eliyahu. “It’s not just a performance.”

The trio will premiere “Advat” at Jerusalem’s Confederation House on August 21, and then perform it at East West House in Tel Aviv on August 28; at Herzl Farm in Hulda on September 7; and at Nocturno Jerusalem on November 26.