European Shakuhachi Summer School 2014

18 June - 23 June 2014

The 2014 ESS Shakuhachi Summer School kicked off with an evening public concert on the 18th June in the Radolfzell Herrenhaus (political administrative building), located just across the road from the Weltkloster (World Monastery), the main location of the Summer School.

The Weltkloster building itself has witnessed a tumultuous and even sometimes violent history over its nearly 400 year lifetime with various transitions in ownership and residency dating back to 1617 with the arrival of the Capuchin monks in Radolzell. 

Aside from performances by official summer school teachers, the opening public concert also included a guest performance by 7 Komuso mendicant monks from the fuke Zen sect of Buddhism who were on tour in Europe. Interestingly the fuke Zen was flourishing in Japan at around the same time the Capuchin monks were attempting to ground themselves at the Weltkloster in Radolfzell. As can be seen in the photograph, a characteristic feature of the Komuso monks is the Tengai, a straw basket worn on the head to symbolise the removal of ego. Historically, the Komuso monks were permitted by the Shogunate of the time to travel throughout Japan playing the Shakuhachi while begging for alms. While travelling, the Tengai afforded the monks a degree of invisibility, a useful feature for those Komuso who were either Samurai or Ronin (Masterless Samurai) and employed by the Shogunate to travel incognito as spies.

ESS 2014 participants

That said, I think the Komuso who were playing at the opening concert had more innocent and positive intentions, and certainly their presence was appreciated by a large audience, including members of the public from Radolfzell and most of the approximately 40 ESS 2014 summer school participants who had made the journey to Radolfzell from as far away as Japan and Australia, as well as more locally from within Europe.

Furuya, Matama and Kakizaki Sensei's

Principle teachers at the summer school representing the KSK (Kokusai Shakuhachi Kenshukan) School of Yokoyama Katsuya Sensei, included FURUYA Teruo, MATAMA Kazushi and KAKIZAKI Kaoru from Japan. 



The Zensabo and Minyo schools were represented by Kiku DAY (Denmark), the Tozan school by Jean-Francois LAGROST (France), the Kinko school of Yamaguchi Goro by Gunnar Jinmei LINDER from Sweden and, KIKUCHI Naoru from the Sawai school of Koto. Additional teachers at the summer school included: Véronique PIRON (France), Horacio CURTI (Spain), and Vlastislav MATOUSEK (Czek Republic).
 

Group playing Murasaki Reibo

The morning's program started at 8am with a one hour session of Zensabo Shakuhachi meditation with Kiku Day. These sessions were well attended and in addition to exploring the concept of Shakuhachi in meditation, the group worked on traditional pieces such as Kyorei, Shingetsu and Sou Shingetsu over the three subsequent days to practice what they had learned.  


Robuki (Blowing the note Ro as a warm up) then followed in the Herrenhaus at 9am for all participants. These sessions lasted 30 minutes and ran in to the individual school sessions as outlined previously i.e., KSK, Kinko, Zensabo, Tozan, Improvisation and Minyo and Koto. 

I joined the Intermediate and Advanced KSK classes to work on the pieces: Sanya, Mountain Valley, Shingetsu, Daha and Reibo. In addition to these classes, I also joined the Zensabo class to work on Murasaki Reibo, the Kinko class to work on Rokudan in conjunction with Koto player Kikuchi Naoru and then collectively with all summer school participants I worked on a group piece called Gaoru, to be played the following evening at the Evangelical church in Allensbach.

Allensbach am Bodensee

After a full day of workshops, evenings were taken up with concerts in surrounding towns such as Ueberlingen and Allensbach (see photo) providing participants with the chance to not only to see something of the surrounding area, but also to perform in public, many for the first time. 

Allensbach Church, Bodensee

The final event of the summer school was the student concert, a chance for participants to perform pieces they'd been working on over the previous days.

 

Sofie Spanget Takkula (Cello), Bjarke Mogensen (Accordian) and Camilla Sibani (Piano) at the Roundtower (Copenhagen)

4 June 2014

I've been waiting for this one since last Friday when I heard from Bjarke that he was playing in a concert at the roundhouse together with Cellist Sofie Takkula. 

Sofie Takkula plays Bach Cello Suite Nr 1

Since I learned that he played accordian, and then went online to listen to his playing, I've just been mesmorised by the diversity of this instrument and his ability to produce the most amazing music. First things first though. 

In addition to Bjarke, the evening also included solo performances by Sofie Takkula on Cello as well as duets with Camilla Sibani on piano. 

The evening kicked off with one of my favorites, Bach's Suite Nr 1, to which I was first introduced in prose while reading The Cello Suites by Eric Siblin.

Sofie Takkula joined by Camilla Sibani

Having read this amazing book, I was inspired to order Pablo Casals early 20th Century recording of the Cello Suites - DG digital release. 

Bach was followed by Shubert's Arpeggione Sonata (1824) a very long - too long sorry - piece which took us to the break, much needed I'm sure by Sofie and Camilla who by this stage had been playing Shubert for the past several hours - OK - 25 minutes perhaps!

Sofie and Bjarke prepare for Kraftwerk

A 20 minute break then took us to Bjarke and Sofie's duet performance of an amazing piece written by Sofia Gubaidulina called Fachwerk. Fachwerk comprises, not a duel between these two instruments, but rather, a slow passing back and forth in between shades of light and dark before the two instruments finally merge with a crescendo at exactly the same moment and position - the centre of the cross. I was left speechless by this piece. I was definitely not the only member of the audience to have been  taken on a personal journey by these two incredible musicians. As Fachwerk unfolded, I was continually reminded of the Japanese writer Murakani. Talking to Bjarke after the concert he was saying that it is very possible that the composer may have been influenced if not by Murakami then certainly by Japan. Indeed, Sofia have impacted strongly on Japan because she was awarded the Japanese Praemium Imperiale in 1998. As I write this post, I'm listening to other pieces by this amazing composer on a recording given to me by Bjarke after the concert. Aside from two encores, the main part of the concert concluded with a lovely three part Rhapsody (Rhapsodia Concertante) by Croatian Composer Boris Papandopolu.

This may have been my last concert here in Copenhagen. How privileged I feel not only to have enjoyed so many beautiful concerts, but also, I have made a few musician friends along the way with whom I am sure I will remain in contact. Tak Koebenhavn.

Balders Plads: A sunny haven

25 May 2014

One of the favorite pastimes for Danes on a beautiful evening like this evening, is to step out of their Apartments to savour the last rays of sunlight at the end of another day. I venture out to Balders Plads, a favorite spot for many, located just around the corner from Nannasgade where I live. I settle for a bench in the direct but slowly waning sun light. Its about 6.45pm. To my right the Baldersgarde Kaffee Bar still has customers. Several are seated outside enjoying the last few hours of the weekend, perhaps plotting between them the following weekend. Closer to my right three young woman are finishing off a bottle of wine, and judging by their mirthful laughter, I imagine that they too are making this day last as long as they can. In front of me slightly to my left, what I imagine to be a father and son, are enjoying a game of table tennis on a permanent outdoor table. I make a mental note that the father is by far the better player of the two, holding back with impressive restraint from smashing the balls that are sent his way time and time again with tempting height. 

Aside from taking in the sun and people around me, I'm reading Strings Attached: One Tough Teacher and the Art of Perfection by Joanne Lipman and Melanie Kupchyhnsky. The book recounts the experiences of the authors (both musicians in their own right) under the bellowing voice and unwavering baton of Mr K (Melanie's father), who over many years coaches countless students and orchestras to perform at their best. Its a story of incredible resilience and tough love, and is a 'must read' for anyone who has ever been inspired by another person, whether in music or otherwise. There are many magic moments in these pages.  

As I'm reading, sun hitting the pages on my left, I squint upward to the right and take in the age of the building (Anno 1901) and note the balconies that serve as airborne gardens stretching out over Balders Plads. Casually the sun fades ever so slowly behind one of the buildings and I imagine it to be close to 7.30pm. A glorious evening gives way to the thought of a workshop tomorrow and I too leave Balders Plads to prepare, like the sun, for another day.

Winnie Bugge Frandsen: Traversfloejte

22 May 2014: Debut Concert

Tonight's Baroque concert was held in Holmens Kirke (Church) located on Holmens Kanal 21, Copenhagen. 




The church itself was first established as an anchor forge in 1563 before being converted to the beautiful church it is today. The audience were treated to a range of baroque pieces ranging from J. S., Bach (1650 - 1685) to Diego Ortiz (1510 - 1570) to Francisco de la Torre (1469 - 1518). 

The arrangements also included instrumental accompaniment in the form of Barokcello (Helene Jerg) and Lute (Dohyo Sol). The evening culminated with J. S. Bach's Orchestra Suite nr 2 in h-mol BWV 1067.

John Mills: Legendary Classical Guitarist visits Copenhagen

19 May 2014 - Det Koniglige Danske Musikkonservatorium (The Royal Danish Academy of Music)


This afternoon, legendary classical guitarist John Mills (UK) proved that he's still got the strings under his control, rewarding a small audience of less than 100 people to a diverse range of pieces by Alexandre Tansman (6 pieces in Modo Polonico), Hans Haug (Preludio and Alba), F. Moreno Torroba (Suite Castellano), Joaquin Turina (Sevillana (Fantasia), Manuel Ponce (Sonata Mexicana), Annette Kruisbrink (Homeaje a Andres Segovia), Isaac Albeniz (Capricho Catalan), Enrique Granados (Spanish dance in G dur) and, rounding off with Bach (Suite No 3) as an encore. It must be close to 40 years since I first saw John Mills perform at the Queen Elizabeth Hall (if my memory serves me correctly). Amazing, still going strong and still seemingly getting so much enjoyment from sharing his incredible talent with the audience. He commenced his visit Friday evening with a public lecture, followed this up with a Masterclass on Saturday, and rounded off both his short sejourn and my weekend with today's beautiful performance. Tak John.

Black Diamond: Contemporary dance at The Royal Danish Theatre

11 May 2014 (A thundery looking Sunday afternoon spent at the grand old Danish Theatre, Kongens Nytorv)

The Royal Theatre in Copenhagen dating back to 1748 has seen many visitors over the years including Søren Kierkegaard who visited to hear Mozart's Don Juan.  Today, yours truly graces the seats for the first time for a performance of Tim Rushton's Black Diamond.

In the middle of the stage stands a guardian dressed in a long black jacket. Silver dust is raining down from the sky. To the minimalistic and unsettling tones of Philip Glass, the man waits for the silvery dust to settle - and then the performance starts.” 

 – Tim Rushton (Concept and Choreography)

My first contemporary dance performance in a long time. Breathtaking in every respect with tempo changes altering the mood of both dancer and audience. Sections in both of the two Acts had the audience literally on the edge of their seats, others, nodding to a melancholy slumber only to be brought back moments later.  Visually and audibly stunning in every way. Sensational!

See a preview and more here.

Copenhagen's music scene

What a great place to enjoy budding musicians from all corners of the globe. Copenhagen offers regular almost nightly concerts from students of the Royal Danish Academy of Music. In fact, last week I was invited to a concert in which four cellists gave performances of Max Bruch, Eduard Lalo, Tchaikovsky and Bach. 

The concert itself was held in a beautiful and very fitting location called Admiral Gjeddes Gaard.

Among the four players, was Josefine, the sister of a mountain biker I met the weekend before last while helping build a trail in a forest about 20km north of Copenhagen. So, back to the concert - all the performers were amazing and posses obvious incredible talent. Josefine's parents introduced themselves to me before the concert, and then after the concert I also met Bjarke, her boyfriend, who is an accordian player. They've invited me to their house later in the month for coffee, to play the Shakuhachi, and perhaps even a duet with the mother who is a harpist and composer of considerable talent. Sometimes Shakuhachi is played ensemble with a Japanese harp (Koto). Probably quite different, but a lovely idea :–)

Here’s a piece played by the mother:

And, here’s an example of Shakuhachi and Japanese harp:

With all the music on offer in Copenhagen, I'm sure that I'll quickly be able to quickly extend this section.

Adam Stadnicki Cello Debut Concert

Thursday 23 April 2014 - Concert Hall - Royal Danish Academy of Music

What a way to kick off an obviously promising career. 

Image: minby.dk

Adam's repertoire for his debut evening included Cellosonate in C-dur. Op 119 (Sergej Prokofjev), Pahadka for Cello and Piano (Leos Janacek), Duet for Cello and Contrabas in D-dur (1824) by Gioacchino Rossini and, Celloconcert Op 26 by Emil Hartmann. Adam was accompanied through the evening by Alexander McKenzie on piano and Michal Stadnicki on Contrabas.

Professor Hannu Kiiski - Cello

23 April 2014 - Studiescenen

Professor Hannu Kiiski's short concert this evening was the first of two that I attended today. very spoiled! His repertoire included Suite Nr 1 (J. S. Bach), Andante cantabile (P Tjaikovskij) and Song of my Heart by Einojuhani Rautavaara.  In addition, several of his Masterclass students also offered a preview of their talent with a range of contemporary pieces. This part of the evening was rounded off by an amazing young Cellist by the name of Leonardo Chiodo who played Rondo in g-mol, op 94 by Antonin Dvorak. 
  

Image from You Tube

This very complex piece and Leonardo's playing had the audience melting in their chairs. I'm sure we'll here much more of him in the future.