Events in London: May, June, July 2011

[sanmenxia]

There are quite a number of events coming up in London at the end of May, and in June and July.


Chinese Four Arts Summer School 2011

British Museum

Friday 27 May - Sunday 29 May

www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/courses/chinese_four_arts.aspx

Study and experience the four Chinese traditional arts – the guqin (zither), weiqi (the game of go), calligraphy and brush painting.

Taught by Li Xiangting, China’s greatest guqin master, go expert Tony Atkins of the British Go Association, and Chinese calligrapher and painter Guo Le. Participants will receive a special booklet by experts on the Chinese Four Arts, to complement the classes.

In collaboration with The Prince’s Charities Foundation (China) and The London Youlan Qin Society.

£80, Members and concessions £65

Tickets are available for individual sessions.

Includes this
Concert: The Guqin Zither: Elegant Orchid
Friday 27 May 2011
19.00

www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/courses/the_guqin_zither.aspx

A unique concert featuring China’s most acclaimed guqin zither grand master and literatus Professor Li Xiangting , China Central Conservatory of Music, Dr Cheng Yu, president of the London Youlan Qin Society, and musicians from the English Chamber Orchestra.

The concert will showcase both traditional and new music for the qin, including masterpieces, improvisations and painting based on poems and verses suggested by the audience, and the world première of a new Chinese-Western collaborative piece, Jieshi (based on Secluded Orchid) for guqin and string quartet, composed by Raymond Yiu, winner of the BASCA British Composer Awards 2010.

Part of the Chinese Four Arts
Summer School.

£5, Members and concessions £3

Only £5!




Chinese Season at the AMC (Asian Music Circuit): June/July 2011
In Acton, West London, and Purcell Room, the South Bank Centre.

AMC's Museum of Asian Music, Bradford Road, London W3 7SP.

More details at www.amc.org.uk/special/chinese-season

Temporary exhibition: ‘Enter Stage Right: Costumes from the Beijing Opera’ at the Museum of Asian Music in London.

This free exhibition will run from Wednesday 22nd June 2011 to Friday 29th July 2011

Opening hours Monday – Friday, 10am – 5pm.
Special weekend opening on 25th and 26th June, 10am – 5pm.
Late night opening: Wednesday 29th June, 10am – 8pm.
Free admission.





Course: Guzheng (Chinese harp)

We are delighted to invite Zhu Xiaomeng (also known as Julie) to lead our Guzheng course once again.

Wednesday 15th June – Saturday 18th June 2011,
AMC's Museum of Asian Music, Bradford Road, London W3 7SP.





Course: Kunqu Opera 'Dan' Voice and Movements

Both male and female participants above 14 years of age are welcome. No experience necessary. Course participants are entitled to a £5 ticket for An Evening of Beijing and Kunqu Opera on Thursday 21st July 2011.

Saturday 25th June (10.00am – 5.00pm) and Sunday 26th June 2011 (10.30am – 5.15pm)
Fee £70 (£60 conc.) for both days.
Watersleeves practice costumes included in fee. Please bring one 26–30 cm folding paper fan which opens out to 180 degrees, or purchase from teacher when you enrol (£12-£15).





Workshop: Chinese Calligraphy [5]

Wednesday 29th June 2011, 6.30pm,
Fee £3 (including all materials).






Course: Dizi (Chinese bamboo flute)

We are pleased to welcome Ruijun Hu to teach short evening classes in Dizi. Ruijun is a member of the London Chinese Orchestra and UK Chinese Ensemble. Open to all.

Wednesday 6th July – Friday 8th July 2011 (6.30pm – 8.30pm).
Fee £15 per day (£12 conc.) or £40 (£35 conc.) for all three days.






Concert: An Evening of Beijing and Kunqu Opera [7] with English and Chinese surtitles

Purcell Room in the Queen Elizabeth Hall at Southbank Centre, London.
Thursday 21st July 2011 at 7.45pm; an auspicious Lion Dance will lead the way from the foyer at 7.15pm.

SOAS World Music Summer School, 20 June - 16 July 2011

www.soas.ac.uk/music/summermusicschool/
www.soas.ac.uk/music/summermusicschool/timetable

Varous classes including these East Asian ones:

Chinese Nanyin Music
Dates: 9 July, Sat 10am-5pm
course fee £50 (concs £35)
Nanyin (literally: "music of the south") is a Unesco-protected genre from China dating back to the Han Dynasty. It incorporates singing and instrumental music. Participants on the course can look forward to learning tunes sung in the distinctive and poetic inflexions of the Minnan dialect. They will also get to handle instruments such as the Pipa (pear-shaped lute), Dongxiao (longitudinal flute), Erxian (two-stringed fiddle) and a multitude of percussion instruments, including the amazing techniques of the Sibao castanets. Some instruments will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own where available. Beginners are welcome, as also are those with prior experience in Chinese music. With Cai Yayi.



Mongolian Overtone Singing
Dates: 20-23 June, Mon-Thu 7-9pm (beginners) AND 27-29 June (advanced), Mon-Wed 7-9pm
course fees: beginners: £65 (concs £45), advanced £50 (concs £35)
Khöömii is an amazing style of overtone/harmonic singing where one person sings two or more distinct pitches at the same time. It originates among the nomads of Central Asia, particularly the mountain regions of Mongolia and Tuva. Listen to your own overtones as you discover the unknown depths and heights of your voice through these enchanting sounds.
With Michael Ormiston & Candida Valentino.



Mongolian Music
Date: 24-25 June , Fri 5-9pm, Sat 10.30am - 5pm
course fee: £65 (concs £45)
Discover the traditional music of Mongolia through Michael Ormiston's unique and rare collection of Mongolian musical instruments, from the Morin Khuur (horse-head fiddle) to the Khenreg (Boo shaman drum) and much more, including vocal music styles. The workshop will introduce basic playing techniques of the instruments, and opportunities for everyone to have a go. The day will also feature live demonstrations by the course leader and filmed performances by Mongolian musicians. With Michael Ormiston.



European Shakuhachi Summer School
Dates: 28-31 July, Thu-Sun 9am-9pm
course fees: full £165 (concs £145), koto/shamisen only: £80 (concs £60)
The Japanese bamboo flute, the shakuhachi, has become an icon of Japanese traditional music both in Europe and throughout the world. This year’s European Shakuhachi Summer School will focus on a wide variety of genres and styles including, for the first time, min’yō (folk song) and how to make your own shakuhachi, while other sessions will focus on different styles from traditional to modern, as well as ensemble classes with koto and shamisen. Classes are open to all levels including beginners.
Taught by leading players from Japan and Europe, and including a range of talks and concerts. Hosted in collaboration with the European Shakuhachi Society (ESS): www.shakuhachisociety.eu

I'm not why the words in the quote boxes are showing up so small, at least on my computer.

[Charlie Huang]

Note I will be teaching beginners on the 28th and 29th May.

[sanmenxia]

The Chinese Four Arts Summer School 2011 is actually five days; 3 at the British Museum and 2 at SOAS.

27th-29th May: the British Museum.
30th-31st May: SOAS, University of London.


I'm not if it's one event that starts on day one then runs through to day five at two different venues, or if it's 2 separate events.

[edcat7]

I was absolutely gutted that I wasn't able to attend tonight's Beijing opera at the Southbank. I had however made a donation to the opera's funds. Since the government's cut-backs the opera has been operating at a loss.

It would be a great shame to see it's demise. Please support.

[sanmenxia]

Arrrhhhh! Shame you missed it. They included some instrumental pieces, as a sort of breathing gap before the opera scenes; one was a hulusi solo "Phoenix Tail Flute Under Moonlight" played by the jinghu player.

There was quite a good turn out, maybe about 80% full. You have to face it, Chinese opera is always going to be a minority interest in the West. But the fact it was at a major London venue with nearly a full house can only be good news.

[edcat7]

OH NO! hulusi solo 'Phoenix fern under the Moonlight' Now I really am gutted. The hulusi is my first love!