Ân Trio Ensemble

"Phoenix Project" Ân Trio Ensemble, a Toronto-based ad-hoc band specializing in Iranian classical music, is excited to share our social movement journey with the aim of raising awareness about important issues of freedom for women and re-establishing their solidarity under the "Women, Life, Liberty" movement. Music has always played a crucial role in addressing systemic issues and has been a powerful tool in campaigns, protests, and influencing people's beliefs and actions. The connection between music and politics lies in their shared ability to evoke emotions, foster unity, and advocate for their respective causes. Inspired by recent protests impacting the Iranian Canadian communities, we have embarked on a musical journey called the "Phoenix Project" to tell our story. The story is aptly named Phoenix, after the mythical golden bird symbolizing renewal and regeneration. It represents hope and new beginnings that emerge from difficult times, providing us with the knowledge and experience to persevere. The compositions in this project are carefully arranged to represent the different phases of a movement:
1. Before the event: The flow of normal life.
2. Event time: When the event occurs.
3. Bewilderment: The state of being lost or confused due to unexpected events like war, genocide, or massacre.
4. Rebellion: Open resistance to the event through street protests, political activities, and social media campaigns. This piece captures the spirit of defiance.
5. Disappointment: Temporary hopelessness resulting from the forcible suppression of activists.The arrangement for this phase will convey a sense of melancholy through instrumental or single vocal performances with instrumental accompaniment.
6. Phoenix: The final stage represents the resurgence of hope rising from accumulated frustrations. The original compositions in the Phoenix Project will utilize various modes of Persian music to express different emotional characteristics. We will draw inspiration from well-known structures such as Pishdaramad, Chaharmezrab, and Avaz, incorporating rhythmic patterns, tempos, melodic movements, and cadences to create a captivating and emotionally appealing presentation of the genre. Thank you for considering our project, and we look forward to the opportunity to share our music and contribute to the cultural dialogue surrounding social movements.

Sunday July 23, 2023