In the coming months, I’ll be performing in 5 different projects, which shows the diversity of possibilities of playing shakuhachi:
The Requiem of Karl Jenkins, May 4 in Middelburg (NL), Japanese tales, May 12 in Rotterdam and July 2 in Den Helder (NL), Les Petites Peurs, mixed media installation, May 20 in Rotterdam (NL), Les Cordes en Ballade, classical music festival, July 11 in Bourg-St-Andéol (FR) and The European Shakuhachi Society Summer School, July 27-30 in Vejle (DK).

Requiem of Karl Jenkins – May 4 – Middelburg (Netherlands)

In a previous post (Karl Jenkins – Requiem), I gave some information about this piece.

My next performance of this Requiem (Mass for the dead)  will be held on a special day in the Netherlands, the “Remembrance of the Dead” (Dodenherdenking).

“This day commemorates all civilians and members of the armed forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands who have died in wars or peacekeeping missions since the outbreak of World War II.  At 20:00, two minutes of silence are observed throughout the Netherlands. Public transport is stopped, as well as all other traffic. (Wikipedia). 
You can find here the official text for Remembrance Day.

It will be held in the concert hall of Middelburg (whereas my previous performances took place in churches), with the choir of the Koninklijke Oratorium Vereniging (KOV) Middelburg . I’m looking forward to contribute with the shakuhachi to this special day in my new country.

Japanese tales – May 12 in Rotterdam / July 2 in Den Helder (Netherlands)

Two years ago, I met the Dutch storyteller Gerard Jellema in Nijmegen and we started a collaboration. From a selection of Japanese tales, we build a musical show that we performed several times last year in beautiful Japanese gardens throughout The Netherlands and in Belgium. This year, we’ll be performing on a special podium organised by a storyteller’s Academie, De Verhalenfontein in May in Rotterdam, and during the Japanese Sunday in July in Den Helder.

 

Les Petites peurs – May 20 – Rotterdam (Netherlands)

Part of the event South Explorer in Rotterdam, I’ll be giving a musical contribution to the opening of the mixed media installation Les Petites Peurs by S.P.A.M van Griensven.

In her latest work S.P.A.M van Griensven is inspired by Japanese myths in which a shapeshifting fox takes on human form. A large collection of lifelike little animalistic figures with human characteristics will be shown a special cabinet of curiosities.

This exhibition wil be held in the Japanese Cultural Center Shofukan, where I give monthly shakuhachi lessons.

Festival Cordes en Ballade – July 11 – Bourg-St-Andéol (France)

Under the artistic direction of the Quatuor Debussy, “Dialogue au Pays du Soleil Levant” will be the theme of our concert featuring a string quartet, koto and shakuhachi. I’ll be back to the region where I grew up, studied music, gave my first flute lessons (when I was 17!). That brings back memories… Next to the shakuhachi, I’ll be presenting and playing some other flutes (including the Japanese transverse flute shinobue).

More information about the program and the festival here.

The European Shakuhachi Society Summer School – July 27-30 – Vejle (Denmark)

“Spending time together” is the focus at this year’s European Shakuhachi Summer School with teachers from all over Europe and the special guest from Japan Maekawa Kogetsu (teacher of Kinpū ryū, Myōan ryū and Echigo style)”.

I’ll be representing Hijiri-kai in this festival and share the music of our school. As I wrote in a previous post, blowing together is an important characteristic of the Hijiri-ryū that I could experienced recently again in Tokyo, and fits perfectly in the spirit “being together” of this Summer School organised by the ESS. There will be shakuhachi lessons, workshops, making/repair, concerts. More information here. Looking forward to it!