Marc Egea and Paul Safar Present “Why Not ’25”

Marc Egea and Paul Safar Hurdy Gurdy and Piano Duo Cherry Blossom Musical Arts and Artistas Intérpretes O Ejecutantes are pleased to announce that Marc Egea of Catalonia, Spain and Paul Safar of Eugene, Oregon will present a mini tour (Why Not ’25) of three concerts in Oregon the week of July 28th, 2025. This unique Hurdy Gurdy and Piano Duo meets in person once a year to present an eclectic mix of orginal, traditional, classical and contemporary music. Their set includes compositions of Catalan composer Mompou, American Jazz Standards, free improvisation and more all on this unique and ancient stringed instrument and piano. Marc and Paul’s collaboration began during the first months of the pandemic when they released an online recording of free improvisations, https://marcegea.bandcamp.com/album/morning-improvisations. Since then, Paul has written a number of pieces for Marc including “Pendulum Palindrome” which was featured at the New Music Gathering in 2021. In summer of 2023, Marc and Paul presented concerts in Eugene and Cottage Grove, OR. Then, in summer 2024, they performed in Sant Pol and Arenys de Mar, Catalonia to large and enthusiastic audiences. Each musician is a composer-performer and enjoys exploring music from one anothers homelands. Marc also plays the flabiol, a traditional Catalan flute that is played one handed. And Paul is known to supplement piano with vocals or melodica. As special guests on the Lincoln Hall concert in Portland, Humanis, a small a capella choir and Eugene based poet Ingrid Wendt will also be an integral part of the show. “Lacrimosa”, which uses a poem by Wendt from her book The Angle of Sharpest Ascending will be world premiered at this special collaborative concert which will have themes of reconcilliation and peace. Marc and Paul are one of the few hurdy gurdy pianos duos around and present a truly unique cross cultural collaboration. websites: https://www.marcegea.com/ca https://paulvsafar.wordpress.com/home/ audio samples El Drac (traditional/Safar) https://soundcloud.com/paulsafar/el-dractradcatalansafar Sprint to the Finish https://soundcloud.com/paulsafar/sprint-to-the-finish video samples: Live at the Jazz Station,Eugene,OR https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-WAw50K-ig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc7oqmQFeZg Thursday, July 31st7:30 p.m. Tsunami Books, 2585 Willamette Street, Eugene,OR tickets $20541 345 8986 or at the door Friday, August 1st 7:30 p.m. Lincoln Hall Recital Hall (PSU) 1620 SW Park Avenue, Portland,OR With Humanis Choir and Ingrid Wendt, poet suggested donation $15-30 at the door, no one turned away