1- What is the band’s line-up? Vocals: Alejandro Fernandez Guitars & keyboards: Diego Ribeiro Couto Bass: Horacio Carrizo Drums: Sergio Vazquez
2- Where does the name KYRIE ELEISON come from, how do you choose it and how is it related to you?
"Kyrie Eleison" is a laudatory acclamation recited by Christians at the beginning of the eucharistic liturgy (mass), but it was chosen for its meaning (from Ancient Greek ‘Kyrios’ – ‘The Lord’ -, and ‘Eleison’ – ‘have mercy’).
The idea of giving the band that name comes from Mozart’s ‘Requiem’. His requiem K. 626 in D minor was dedicated to ‘his own death’ and –curiously- he passed away when he was about to finish it.
The Kyrie Eleison is one of its best-known sections.
It is from this work that we decide to use that name for the band, since it is a unique piece from an innovator like Mozart, which has some similarities with our music (orchestral arrangements, choir) and –fundamentally- it is conceived to transmit profound feelings (sadness, in this case)
We also want to clarify that we do not intend to transmit any religious message, or anything of that kind (we are actually quite far from that).
3- How do you compose your songs, do you all collaborate, or just some of you, or just one, perhaps? The first songs were composed in different ways, but –to keep it simple- music and orchestration were mainly Diego’s task, and lyrics were Horacio’s. The newest songs were composed and orchestrated by Alejandro, with Diego’s collaboration in the orchestration, as well.
Regardless of who composes a song, each member brings ideas and details (melodies, solos, rhythms) to give it the final shape and character. Thu, the listener can perceive 4 different people - together with a choir of around 15 members, and the sound of instruments from a classical orchestra- interpreting the same musical idea from their own instrument, that being the reason why the band would not be the same without one of these members.
4- What do you intend to transmit through your compositions?
We try to stick out from the majority of the bands of the style by focusing on more realistic subjects. Since music can express ideas or feelings, we prefer writing about more real and current problems, and not about knights fighting dragons. Not because we dislike the bands that do it, but because it becomes easier for someone to express those feelings that he truly feels. Greed, insecurity, unemployment, the terrible consequences of the governments, homeless children, and even the tragedies like the flood that stroke us only a couple of years ago, together with the different visions and sensations that a person may have about all of that are the starting points for our songs.
4- What do you intend to transmit through your compositions?
We try to stick out from the majority of the bands of the style by focusing on more realistic subjects. Since music can express ideas or feelings, we prefer writing about more real and current problems, and not about knights fighting dragons. Not because we dislike the bands that do it, but because it becomes easier for someone to express those feelings that he truly feels. Greed, insecurity, unemployment, the terrible consequences of the governments, homeless children, and even the tragedies like the flood that stroke us only a couple of years ago, together with the different visions and sensations that a person may have about all of that are the starting points for our songs.
5-Which of your compositions or songs do you see as KYRIE ELEISON’S window to the world and why? Actually, all our songs have so much work and dedication on them, that it’s very difficult to put one on top of the rest. What happens is that each one implies so much work, that we only get to record the ones we really like. Apart from that, we have influences from different styles, that’s the reason why our music – short from lacking a personality- is quite varied.
If we must choose, we believe that there are 2 songs that all the audience should listen to so as to have a general view of what the band does. These songs are ‘Children of Pain’ and ‘Facing the Rage’.
‘Children…’ I a rather long song (a little over 7 minutes) that goes through fast passages, half-feel passages, orchestral sections, melodic passages, and its structure is organized, but varied.
‘Facing…’ shows the edge to which the band can get at moments, it is a fast and quite direct song –although it’s full of details that go unheard the first time you listen to it- with a half-feel section in the middle. The rhythm figures make it have some rather ‘progressive’ passages at some points.