November 13-14, 2009  Museum of Ethnology, Vienna  -Japanese Court Music and Dance-

Nov 2009 Vienna poster After the performance for the opening ceremony of the special exhibition, Made in Japan in April, a member of the executive committee has contacted us again for another performance in Vienna. The venue was again at the same site, Museum of Ethnology, Vienna, which was built in a neo-baroque style in the late 19th century as the royal palace for the Hapsburg. The concert stage, set in a dome-like four story hall, had a fantastic sound effect and was the ideal place for gagaku and bugaku.
One member of the audience said, “Feeling the extreme sense of tension created by the oneness of the stage and the audience, I truly experienced the real thrill of the performing arts.” The audience was pulled into the world of the subtle and profound. The performers as well were having a wonderful experience. We are very honored and grateful for having this opportunity to perform at this prestigious venue.
During the program, each musical instrument was introduced to the audience for the better understanding of gagaku.
 
Venue: The Museum of Ethnology Vienna
Attendance: about 350 people (for two days)
Program :
Part One: Short lecture on the history of gagaku / Bugaku: Ryo-o ranjo
Part Two: Bugaku: Kocho / Kangen: Hyojo-no netori, Etenraku / Presentation of each musical instrument /
Kangen: Bairo / Kaguramai: Urayasu-no-mai
 
Kangen Ryo-o ranjo Kocho Urayasu-no-mai
curtain call brochure of Made in Japan
♦Related website
Japanese Program at Institute for East Asian Studies at Univ. of Vienna --- Information of the performance

November 16, 2009  Catholic University of Leuven  -Gagaku Concert Leuven-

Nov 2009年 Leuven poster The Catholic University of Leuven was founded in 1425, and is the oldest catholic university in Belgium. In 1968 the university separated into two different institutions: traditional Flemish (Dutch)-speaking and French-speaking institutions. The concert was held in the city of Leuven which is located about 20 km to the East of Brussels, the capital city. Leuven is an old and historical town with a lot of medieval reminiscences.
The concert was planned as part of an educational program of the university and received the support of the Embassy of Japan in Belgium and Belgium-Japan Association & Chamber of Commerce (BJA).
On that day, His Excellency Mr. Jun Yokota, Japanese Ambassador and his wife, about 80 members and officers from Japan Association and BJA, 100 students from the Japanese Study at the university and about 340 residents of Leuven and Brussels came to see the concert.
 
Venue: Catholic University of Leuven
Attendance:about 520 people
Program:
Part One: Short lecture on the history of gagaku / Bugaku: Ryo-o ranjo
Part Two: Bugaku: Kocho / Kangen: Hyojo-no netori, Etenraku / Presentation of each musical instrument /
Kangen: Bairo / Kaguramai: Urayasu-no-mai
 
Ryo-o ranjo Kocho Kangen Urayasu-no-mai

Comments by attendees:
"The concert was marvelous. All the musicians showed their wonderful skills and their gorgeous costumes stood out against the simple venue. The dancer's costumes were also gorgeous and chic, showing great nobility. The movement of the dancers were elegant, gracious, and truly representative of the rich Japanese culture."
"Most of the spectators were touched by the performance. Some have never seen or heard gagaku and bugaku, and were very impressed with the concert. It was well organized. The reception of the invited guests, by the college staff and students were very good. It was a wonderful event."
"I spent a very meaningful evening to see closely the wonderful performance of gagaku and bugaku. Among all I was fascinated and impressed by Ryo-o." "It was my first time seeing gagaku and it was very interesting. I was listening so intensely that I lost track of time."
"The sound of the music and dances were so different from that of the west. It was a strange feeling." "The explanation was very helpful. Because of the introduction of each musical instrument, I was able to listen to the sound of each individual instrument. It was very interesting." "The beauty of the costume and the mask caught my eye. I also wanted to hear their explanation."

♦Related website:
Japan-EU Research Center ---Information on the concert
Belgium-Japan Association & Chamber of Commerce (BJA) ---Information on the concert

April 21, 2009 The Museum of Ethnology Vienna
Opening Ceremony for the special exhibition, Made in Japan
the Holfburg new Palace The year 2009 was designated as "Japan-Austria Friendship Year 2009" to commemorate the 140th year of establishing a diplomatic relationship between Japan and Austria.
As part of this celebration, exhibitions and events titled, Four seasons of Japan, are being held at the Museum of Ethnology Vienna. The special exhibition, Made in Japan, started on April 22, 2009 to display the Museum's own collections and will be exhibited until March 31, 2010.
Kitanodai Gagakukai performed gagaku music and bugaku dance, Sekaiha, at the opening ceremony on April 21, 2009.

Venue: The Museum of Ethnology Vienna (located in the Holfburg new Palace)
Attendance: about 600 people
Guest: President of Austria, Mr. & Mrs. Heinz Fischer,
Director of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Dr. Sabine Haag
Director of the Institute for East Asian Studies at Vienna University, Dr. Sepp Linhart
Japanese Ambassador to Austria, Mr. Akio Tanaka
09wien04s.jpg(46967 byte) 09wien01s.jpg(44309 byte) 09wien03s.jpg(48464 byte) 09wien05s.jpg(44050 byte)

Comments by the attendees:
"Felt like I was in a different world." "I was enchanted." "It was very mystical and wonderful."
"I have no words to describe it."

♦Links:
Japanese Embassy in Austria--- Japan Austria Friendship Year 2009 Event Calendar
Austria Embassy in Japan--- Official website of Japan Austria Friendship Year 2009 (Japanese/German)
The Museum of Ethnology Vienna--- "Four Seasons of Japan" (German)
APA-OTS--- Article on the "Four Seasons of Japan" (German) / the photos of the opening ceremony

April 22, 2009 University of Vienna   Lecture/concert at Seikaiha Garden
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna was founded in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German speaking sphere. Kitanodai Gagaku Kai presented gagaku music and bugaku dance, Seikaiha as part of the commemorative events to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Japanese garden located in the new campus (Universitatscampus AAKH) which was built in 1998.
The garden named Sekaiha Teien was created by the Japan Gardening Association in front of the clock tower at the Institute for Japanese Studies (Currently East Asian Studies) in the year which Japan and Austria celebrated the 130th year of establishing their diplomatic relationship. The garden was designed to bring peace to the world through the Japanese spirit of respect to harmony.
The event started with a greeting speech by the president of the Japan Gardening Association, Mr. Eishin Harada, followed by the gagaku music performance, an explanation of its history and instruments, and a bugaku dance, titled Seikaiha.

Lecture place: Room A on AAKH Campus at University of Vienna
Organized by: Japanese Program at the Institute for East Asian Studies
Attendance: Approx. 100 people
Seigaiha Teien Seikaiha Teien bugaku dance bugaku dance costume's pattern
Seikaiha Teien
on AAKH campus at University of Vienna
(photo by University of Vienna)
Before the crowd of eagerly attentive students:
Seikaiha is normally performed with two dancers, but due to the space limit at the lecture room, only one performer danced.
Costume's pattern - Seikaiha and plover

Comments by attendees:
"It was very unique and interesting." "The costume and choreography of the dancer was beautiful."
"I wanted to hear more different music."

♦Links:
University of Vienna---HOME (German) / Event Calendar
Japanese Program at Institute for East Asian Studies at Univ. of Vienna--- HOME (German)

Arpil 24-25, 2009  Tunisia  Cartage concert
Mad'Art Carthage
The second concert after the first one in 2006 was held at the ancient city of Cartage, located 15 km northeast of Tunis. Cartage, founded as a colonial city of Phoenicia about 2800 years ago, had experienced a repeated rise and fall within its history because of that of the Greek, Roman, Arab and Turk empires. Now, the city attracts innumerable tourists that come to see its scenic beauty, the ruins, museums and quiet suburban environment.
Both days were blessed with good weather and the first day's concert was sold out. The Tunis Singers which was formed by a group of chorus enthusiasts 30 years ago opened the first day's concert with the presentation of Japanese songs.
At the tea demonstration held on the 24th, Mr. Yoichiro Iguchi, president of Kitanodai Gagaku Kai prepared the tea as the host for the guests, the Japanese Ambassador to Tunisia, Mr.& Mrs. Shigeru Endo.
During the break time, matcha tea and sweets were served to the visitors at the lobby on the 1st floor. On the 2nd floor near the entrance to the concert hall, many beautiful flower arrangements displayed by the members of the Jasmine club brightened up the place.
After the break, the audience enjoyed the performance of gagaku music and bugaku dance. Afterwards, a Q&A session on gagaku was held with conservatory students.
On the 25th, a bugaku workshop took place from noon for two hours. Eleven local professional dancers participated to learn the history and movements of bugaku.

Venue: Madar, Cartage (seating capacity 230)
Organizer: Kitanodai Gagau Kai  Sponsor: Japanese Embassy in Tunisia
Attendace: 230 people on the 24th, 150 people on the 25th.
Program :
April 24: 19:00-21:00
Part 1: Japanese songs/Tea demonstration/intermission (tea service)
Part 2: Gagaku-1.hyojyo-no-netori, etenraku 2. saibara,koui, 3.Bugaku, seikaiha
April 25: 14:00-14:50
Part 1: Tea demonstration/intermission (tea service)
Part 2: Gagaku-1.hyojyo-no-netori, etenraku 2. saibara,koui, 3.Bugaku, seikaiha

Chanoyu 1 Chanoyu 2 Chanoyu 3 Bugaku Workshop

Japanese Ambassador to Tunisia, Mr. & Mrs. Shigeru Endo

Host - Mr. Yoichiro Iguchi, president of Kitanodai Gagakukai

Sweets in an origami container served to visitors

Participants learning kinesiology exercise

Comments by attendees:
"I wanted to hear more music." "Bravo!"
"It was wonderful. I would like to explore other Japanese cultures if any." "I want to see the next concert." "I would like to see this type of event in other regional places especially, Sousse, in addition to Tunis."
"It was a fabulous night. I want to live in Japan." "It was soothing night. I fell in love with it."
"It was a very exotic and comforting event." "I am very proud of being Japanese to see this type of activity in abroad." "It was the first time for me to see Japanese ceremony and I understood its value. Their postures, movements and the way they preceded were very fantastic."
"It would have been more understandable if there were some explanations during the tea demonstration."
"Please present it in Arabic language next time."
"Please come back again and show us more. Thank you very much."

♦Links:
Japanese Embassy in Tunisia---Cultural program calendar(Japanese)  | Cultural program calendar(French)
The Tunisian National Tourism Office--- The Tunisian National Tourism Office(English)

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