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Stellamara originated in 1994 creating evocative soundscapes that
are now considered a new model in contemporary world music. At
its core is vocalist/producer Sonja Drakulich and multi-
instrumentalist Gari Hegedus. Their music incorporates medieval
European, Persian, Arabic, Indian, Turkish and Balkan with subtle
electronic textures. The result is a sublime new level of mystery,
beauty and depth.
Sonja Drakulich was introduced to Eastern European singing as
a teenager and began performing Balkan, Medieval Music and her
own compositions at the age of 18. Being of Serbian and
Hungarian decent, discovering the songs of Eastern Europe was for
her a homecoming. Her continuous interest and study ranges from
Medieval European and Persian voice to Turkish, Arabic and
Greek and Balkan singing.
She has toured extensively with both
Bulgarian and Turkish Ensembles and has produced and
engineered several recordings. She is the producer of Stellamara
and performs with the ensemble as the lead vocalist, percussionist
and hammered dulcimer player. Sonja spends much of her time
focusing on the devotional aspect of song and carries with her a
passionate and rhythmic style graced with the delicate
ornamentations of Eastern melody.
Gari Hegedus began devoting his life to music 25 years ago
with the study of Early European, Celtic and Bretagne music. From
there he was led east into the intense practice and performance of
Turkish classical and Mevlevi ceremonial music.
Gari's repertoire
and playing styles span outward from Turkey into Greece and the
Arab lands as well as to Iran and India. His main instruments are
the oud, violin and saz yet his talent is expressed on many other
instruments including the mandocello, sarod and setar.
As a
composer and musician, Gari utilizes the various Eastern modal
systems called Maqam and has developed the art of improvisation
(Taqsim) to a soulful level for which he has become highly
recognized.
On stage and in the studio, Stellamara incorporates the talents
of percussionists Tobias Roberson and Susu Pampanin, along with
upright Bassist Miles Jay.
Their tapestry of sound is
complemented with the custom sound design of Christofer K.
Original, atmospheric sounds and sonic backdrops are created from
mostly their own acoustic sources, such as the yayli tanbur, viola
and wind instruments such as the Ney and Zurna. The result of this
creation is a sublime new level of mystery, Beauty and depth.
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![[Star Of The Sea by Stellamara]](/music/Stellamara/Star%20Of%20The%20Sea/cover_200.webp "Star Of The Sea by Stellamara")