Musicatlas
Music
Life
Babis (Charalambos) Kanas was born in 1952 and grew up in N. Faliron, near Piraeus. Son of the sea-painter Antony Kanas, he showed interest and love for music, already from his childhood. In 1969 he entered the Athens Conservatory where he studied harmony with Menelaos Pallandios and flute with Urs Ruttiman. He graduated from both studies with distinction, in 1977 and 1980 respectively. Meanwhile, he stydied counterpoint, fugue and composition with Yannis A. Papaioannou. Later, in collaboration with Costas Clavvas, he practiced the style and orchestration of modern music. At that time he registrated his titles of study (Kentrikon Odeion, 1994: Diploma of Composition with distinction and First Prize).
His writing is mostly contrapuntal, although his main purpose is the outmarking of melodic elements. His style is characterized by a balancing on the limits between extended- and multi-tonality which is usually achieved by the use of multi-note chords, as well as antique and/or ethnic modes.
His up-to-now works include solo and chamber music, choral music, works for orchestra with and without soloist(s), as well as many songs, musik for the theatre and radio. Most of them are often performed in Greece and abroad (Tchech Rep., Hungary, Austria, Holland, Bulgaria, Ukrainia, Italy, Switzerland, Belgique, France, USA, Canada), performed and broadcasted by the Greek Radio, twice awarded by composition prizes and edited on CD records. He has had comissions by the Athens Music Hall, the A. Onassis Foundation, the European Cultural Centre of Delphi, the Organization for the Cultural Capital of Europe, the Athens State Orchestra and the Union of Greek Composers where, he has been a member of the Administrative Board.
B. Kanas is a professor in Athens Conservatory and elsewhere, and Artistic Director of Melantheion Odeion in Rhodes. He has been a flute performer in orchestras and solo recitals.