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Japanese festival music comes to Armidale

October 27, 2004

Kanuma.jpgArmidale people will soon have an opportunity to experience the traditional festival music of Japan.

A group of festival musicians from Kanuma, a Japanese city with which Armidale enjoys a “Friendship City Agreement”, will perform at the C.B. Newling Centre (the Old Teachers’ College) at 7.30 pm on Friday 5 November.

The seven members of the Kamifukazu Club for Matsuri-bayashi will also conduct a five-hour workshop (9.30 am – 3 pm) earlier that day. Participants in the workshop will learn how to play two kinds of drum used in the festival music, and a hand-held gong. Those who have experience on a wind instrument can also learn to play the festival flute.

The University of New England, Armidale Dumaresq Council and Kanuma City Council are sponsoring the musicians’ visit. Associate Professor Hugh de Ferranti from UNE explained that “matsuri” is a Japanese word for “festival”, and that the visiting group is one of more than 20 community-based groups in the city of Kanuma that perform “matsuri-bayashi” music on festival days and at important events. “The Autumn Festival (Aki Matsuri) is the biggest public event on the calendar in Kanuma,” Dr de Ferranti said. “On two consecutive days, intricately carved and decorated carts are pulled through the streets, and the music of matsuri-bayashi groups playing inside the carts rings in the air.”

Dr de Ferranti, who is coordinating the daytime workshop, pointed out that, although it is free, those interested in participating should book by e-mailing him at: hdeferra@une.edu.au.

At the evening concert, traditional Japanese food and drinks will be served during interval. Although there will be no entry charge for the concert, gold-coin donations to help cover costs will be welcomed. “The first half of the concert will include both music and presentations on Kanuma and its Autumn Festival,” Dr de Ferranti said. “The second half will be performances of typical music and dance for both the Autumn Festival and the mid-summer Obon Festival.”

For more information contact Dr de Ferranti at UNE on (02) 6773 3518.


Media contact: Associate Professor Hugh de Ferranti, School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, UNE (02) 6773 3518 or Jim Scanlan, Public Relations, UNE (02) 6773 3049.


Posted by Jim Scanlan at October 27, 2004 02:51 PM