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Concerts/Lecture Schedule

April 29th, 2008. College Station, Texas

The Melbern C. Glasscok Center for Humanitarian Studies, Lecture & Performance

Seeking Spirituality in the Performing Arts of Japan: Music, Dance, and Theater as Paths to Self-Knowledge

 

Date & Time: April 29th, 3:00 PM
Place: : Glasscock Library Room 311. Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Admission: Free and open to the public
For information or reservations, please contact: Marty Regan, or view the Center's homepage.

Shakuhachi and Japanese music specialist Christopher Yohmei will talk about spirituality in Japanese music, using exampes of Buddhist, Shinto and Shamanistic muisc. The lecture will conclude with a performance of a Kinko Style shakuhachi solo meditative honkyoku, "Song of the Cranes."

April 25th (Fri), April 26th (Sat) , 2008, San Francisco

Ghosts & Girls

The haunting stories of master teller Brenda Wong Aoki, featuring Tokyo shakuhachi master Christopher Yohmei and the dynamic women drummers Maze Daiko, under the direction of Mark Izu

 

Date & Time: April 25th (Fri) at 8:00 PM , April 26th (Sat) at 2:00 PM.
Place: : Eugene and Elinor Friend Center for the Arts, Kanbara Hall, Jewish Community Center of San Francisco, 3200 California at Presidio
Admission: $25 general/ $22 members/ $15 students.
For information or reservations, please contact: First Voice www.firstvoice.org

Oct. 9, 2007, Volcano Art Center, Hawai'i (Big Island)

Japanese Music Concert

Christopher Yohmei Performs with koto masters

Masateru and Tamaki Ando

Date & Time: Oct 9 (Tue), 7 PM.
Place: : Volcano Art Center's Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village (corner of Kalanikoa & Old Volcano Roads).
Admission: $12 adults / $10 seniors 65 & up or children 12 & under ($1 more at the door).
For information or reservations, please contact: Volcano Art Center(808) 967-8222

"Japanese Music Concert" with master koto players Masateru & Tamaki Ando from Tokyo and noted shakuhachi player Christopher Yohmei Blasdel. Enjoy the intimate setting of Niaulani's Great Room--with built-in window seats, a cozy fireplace, and views into the native rainforest--while listening to the tranquil sounds of the Japanese koto, a 13-string zither-like instrument that is played horizontally, and the shakuhachi, an end-blown bamboo flute that is played vertically. Call (808) 967-8222. http://www.volcanoartcenter.org/

June 9 , 2007, Tokyo

A recital to commemorate Christopher Yohmei's 35 years
in Japan studying shakuhachi

Shakuhachi exTemporal

Exploring improvisation in comtemporary and traditional shakuhachi music

Christopher Yohmei: Shakuhachi
Sukeyasu Shiba: Ryuteki
Mika Kimula: Voice
Yutaka Mikoya: Koto
Hideo Arai: Dance
Koji Ohno: Sculpture

Date & Time: June 9 (Sat), 6:30 PM.
Place: : Tsuda Hall (03-3402-1851). Right in front of JR, Sobu Line Sendagaya Station or subway, Oedo Line Kokuritsu Kyogijo
Admission: 4000 yen (advance sale) 4500 yen (at the door)
For information or reservations, please contact: Aura-J Office
Tel: 03-3749-3741, Fax: 03-3749-3719, Mail: info@ora-j.com

Part I: Sokoku Butai--Shakuhachi, voice and dance brings to life the impeccable sculpture of Koji Ohno.
Part II: The classics reborn in the spirit of improvisation.
  • Tsuki no Kyoku (Kinko style honkyoku)
  • Sarashi (Jiuta Sokyoku)
  • Night of the Garuda (contemporary duet for shakuhachi and ryuteki)

 

October 1, 2006, Yokohama

Sou Koku Bu Tai--The Awakening

Shakuhachi/Dance/Sculpture

Christopher Yohmei/Shakuhachi

Koji Ohno/Sculpture

Hideo Arai/Dance

Date & Time: October 1 (Sun), 5 PM.
Place: : Gaety-Za (Iwasaki Museum, Yokohama, 045-623-2111. Take the Minato Mirai Line and get off at Moto Machi, Chukagai, exit no. 5. Iwasaki Museum is a 5 minute walk up the hill next to Yokohama International School).
Admission: 2000 yen (all seats reserved)
For information or reservations, contact Gallery Simon,

Tel/Fax: 045-212-1590
http://www1.odn.ne.jp/gallerysimon/

Have you ever wondered what brings sculpture to life?  Shakuhachi artist Christopher Yohmei and dance/movement artist Hideo Arai will bring to life the impeccable sculpture of Koji Ohno. Come join and watch as these two performance artists infuse inert wood with breath and movement.

May 21, 2006, Shibuya

WAVE / PULSE/ BREATH

Shakuhachi/Dance/Biwa

Christopher Yohmei/Shakuhachi

Kazuyuki Shiotaka/Biwa, Vocals

Hideo Arai/Dance

Date & Time. May 21st (Sat.) 2:30 PM (Doors open at 2:00)
Place: Shibuya Koen Dori Classics (5 minute walk from JR Shibuya Station, basement of Yamate Kyokai Church) 03-3464-2701 (hall)  03-3423-6343 (office)
http://www.radio-zipangu.com/koendori/access/index.html
sAdmission: 2500 yen (includes one drink)
You can see the homepages of the  artists at the
following sites:
Hideo Arai: http://www.h2.dion.ne.jp/￣hideo -a/
Kazuyuki Shiotaka: http://home.att.ne.jp/kiwi/Eclipse/

Simply put: everyone breathes, everyone moves, and everyone feels a pulse. This is true in any country, in any culture, in any age. Wave/pulse/breath; these are the basic elements of life. Three artists from Japan and American come together to celebrate the archtypal impulses of movement, music and the word. The music will consist of traditional shakuhachi and biwa, performing  contemporary and improvisational compositions.  The dance is music made visual.

Feb. 24, 2006 Tokyo, Sengawa

Contemporary Music for Shakuhachi and Shamisen

Featuring solo and duet music by

Christopher Yohmei/Shakuhachi,

Tetsuya Nozawa/Shamisen

Date: Feb. 24 (Fri) 7:30 PM  (doors open at 6:30)
Venue: Kick Back Cafe, 5 minute walk from Sengawa Station, Keio Line Tel: 03-5384-1577
Map at http://www.kickbackcafe.jp
Admission: 3000 advance purchase (or reservation), 3500 at the door


July 28, 2005 Tokyo, Kameido

ORA-J (Orchestra Japan)
16th Regular Concert

Featuring Christopher Yohmei

Date: Thursday, July 28, 17:00 (Doors open at 18:30)
Admission: 3500 yen, free seating, 4000 yen reserved seat
Place: Kameido Kameria Hall (2 minute walk from JR Sobu Line, Kameido Station)
For more information call Ora-J, 03-3749-3741
Ora-J is a group of career musicians performing contemporary works on traditional instruments. They will peform the following pieces:

  1. Minoru Miki: Sonnet I
  2. Shuko Mizuno: Autumn Serenade (World Premier)
  3. Masanaga Matsuoka: Cure (World Premier)
  4. Teizo Matsumura: Poem I
  5. Minoru Miki: Koto Concerto No. 4, "Pine"

6/14/05 Oji, Tokyo

Kikuko Moriya Dance Performance

With music by

Christopher Yohmei, Shakuhachi

Date: Tuesday, June 14, 17:00 〈Doors open at 18:30〉
Admission: 3000 yen, free seating
Place: Kita Topia, Planaterium Hall (JR, Keihin Tohoku Line, Oji Station)
Christopher Yohmei will perform solo shakuhachi music for one of Japan's leading modern dancers.


5/14/04 Nagoya

5/16/04 Yakage City, Okayama

Wiener Solisten Trio and their friends

With special appearance by

Christopher Yohmei Blasdel, Shakuhachi

Nagoya Date: Friday, May 14, 18:45 〈Doors open at 18:00〉
Admission: S＼ 7000, A＼ 5000
Place: Shirakawa Hall, Nagoya City
For more information call Shirakawa Ticket Office: 052-221-1319

Yakage Date: Sunday, May 16, 16:00 (Doors open at 15:30)
Admission: ＼ 4500, ＼ 3500
Place: Yakage Bunka Center, tel: 0866-82-2100

Pieces

  • Akehiko Takeuchi: "Shirabe and Oki for Eastern Bamboo and Western Strings" featuring Weiner Solisten Trio cellist Franz Bartolomey on the cello.


  • Teleman：Suite in G Major

  • Schumann：Fantasiestueck, Op. 73

  • Kreisler, Leibesleid/Liebesfreud

  • Michio Miyagi: Haru no Umi

　


Winter-Summer, 2003

Archival listing (1999-2002)

　

12/25/03

Bamboo Voice and Human Flute

Christmas Special

Christopher Yohmei Blasdel: Shakuhachi

Mika Kimula: Voice

In a program of traditional, contemporary and popular music

  • Date & Time: Dec. 25 (Thursday) 7:30 (doors open at 6:30)

  • Place: Otoya Kin Toki (03-5382-2121. JR Chuo or Sobu Lines, Nishi Ogikubo Station. Get off at the North exit. Otoya Kin Toki s about a three minute walk eastward (in the direction of Shinjuku) along the tracks, right across from the Nishi Ogi Chuo Hospital. See map at http://www2.u-netsurf.ne.jp/~otokin/

  • Admission: 2000 yen (includes one drink)

  • Program:

    • Kinko Style shakuhachi honkyoku

    • 20th Century Japanese vocal music

    • Contemporary shakkuhachi music

    • Contemporary vocal and shakuhachi music

    • Christmas carols

Archival concert listing

　

6/18-21

Los Tres Gaijingos

Three Texan Shakuhachi Players Performing in Texas

Tyler, San Antonio, Dallas

Christopher Yohmei Blasdel

Riley Lee

Stan Richardson

In a program of traditional, contemporary and popular music

Tyler
Date: June 18, 2003 6:30 PM
Venue: Tyler Museum of Art
Admission: $3
For more information contact: Lucinda Presley, 903-595-1001 Ext. 212

San Antonio
Date: June 19, 2003 7:00 PM
Venue: Cener for Spirituality and the Arts VIW Campus
Admission: $10
For more information contact: Diana Roberts, 210-829-5980

Dallas
Dates: June 20-21, 2003 7:00 PM
Venue: The Crow Collection of Asian Art
For more information contact: Jennifer Thomas, 214-979-6437
Admission: $20

　

　

6/13

WAVE / PULSE/ BREATH

Shakuhachi/Dance/Indian Drum

Christopher Yohmei/Shakuhachi

Nandlal Nayak/Dholak Indian Drum

Hideo Arai/Dance

with Special Malaysian Guest Dancer, Wei Jun

Date: June 13, 2003 8:00 PM
Venue: Otoya Kintoki, Basement floor, Kishi Koop, 2-2-14 Nishi Ogikubo, Suginami-ku, Tokyo TEL：　０３−５３８２−２０２０. Three minuite walk, northeast, from JR Chuo Line Nishi Ogikubo Station.
Map at http://www4.gateway.ne.jp/~otokin/
Admission: ＼2500. 

Simply put: everyone breathes, everyone moves, and everyone feels a pulse. This is true in any country, in any culture, in any age..Wave/pulse/breath; these are the basic elemenst of life. Four artists-from Japan, American India and Malaysia-come together to celebrate the archtypal impulses of movement, music and the word.

　

　

5/25

International and Japanese Musicians Perform

in a concert sponsored by the
Ministry of Cultural Affairs:

The Melody of Japan

Kyoto Elegance, Edo Chic

This concert features the finest examples of Edo Period music from the elegant settings of Kyoto to the vivacious theater music of Edo. International Musicans are joined by top-ranking Japanese musicians to perform a wide variety of hogaku pieces.

Program:

Sankyoku Ensemble Music："Sasa no Tsuyu (Sake)"

Shamisen, Song ：Fujii Kunie (Living National Treasure)

Koto： Fujii Akiko

Shakuhachi: Christopher Yohmei

Noh Chanting："Takasago"

Richard Emmert

Nagauta： "Yoshiwara Suzume"

Shamisen： John Lytton、Kineya Goshiro, others

Song： To'on　Nichigaki Kazuhiko,　others

Shakuhachi Honkyoku ："Tsuru no Sugomori"

David Wheeler

Plus more...

Sponsors：Bunkacho, Victor Bunka Shinkou Zaidan

Date: Sunday, May 25, 2003, 1:30 PM

Place: Iino Hall 2-1-1 Uchi Saiwai Cho Chiyoda-ku

　

4/25


Beat, Pluck and Blow,

Shakuhachi/Biwa/Indian Drum

Session

Christopher Yohmei/Shakuhachi

Nandlal Nayak/Dholak Indian Drum

Kazuyuki Shiotaka/Satsuma Biwa

Date: April 25, 2003 8:00 PM
Venue: Otoya Kintoki, Basement floor, Kishi Koop, 2-2-14 Nishi Ogikubo, Suginami-ku, Tokyo TEL：　０３−５３８２−２０２０. Three minuite walk, northeast, from JR Chuo Line Nishi Ogikubo Station.
Map at http://www4.gateway.ne.jp/~otokin/
Admission: ＼2500. 

This session between Christopher Yohmei, Satsuma Biwa performer Takayuki Shiotaka and Indian percussionist Nandu Nayak (presently in Japan on a Japan-US Friendship Commission Creative Artists' Exchange Program), will include contemporary, traditional and improvised music for the three instruments.

　

　

Christopher Yohmei Blasdel-Shakuhachi

Mika Kimula--Voice

Contemporary and Traditional Music from Japan Bamboo Voice, Human Flute

USA 2003 TOUR

Bamboo Voice, Human Flute consists of works from the rich repertory of traditional shakuhachi and Japanese vocal music together with exciting new compositions that negotiate tradition within the complexity of contemporary Tokyo. Pieces range from 17th Century Zen-inspired shakuhachi honkyoku solos to works newly commissioned for shakuhachi and voice. The program features the internationally known artists Christopher Yohmei Blasdel on shakuhachi and vocalist Mika Kimula. The USA 2003 TOUR will take them to New York, Philadelphia and Chicago.

New York
Date: Sunday, Feb. 23, 4:00 PM
Place: Reisinger Concert Hall, Sarah Lawrence College (Metro-North Railroad, Harlem Line, Bronxville Station)
Admission: $10 (Seniors, students, $8)
For information contact: Grant Grastorf, Director of College Events Sarah Lawrence College, Tel: 914- 395-2412 E-mail: GrantG@sarahlawrence.edu

Philadelphia
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 26, 8 PM
Place: Amado Recital Hall, Irvine Auditorium (University of Pennsylvania)
Admission: Please inquire
For more information (including admission fee), please contact: Regina Christian, Performance Coordinator University of Pennsylvania Department of Music 201 South 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6313 2
Tel: 215/898-6244 E-mail: reginac@sas.upenn.edu

Chicago
Date: Thursday, Feb. 27, 8 PM
Place: Lily Reid Holt Memorial Chapel, Lake Forest College, 555 North Sheridan Rd, Lake Forest, IL 60045-3299
Admission: Please inquire
 For more information (including admission fee), please contact: George Speros, Associate Provst Lake Forest College,
tel: 847-735-5020 E-mail: speros@lakeforest.edu

　

Each Program will include some of the following pieces:

Shakuhachi solo:
 ・ Nesting Cranes (Sokaku Reibo) 17th Century Shakuhachi honkyoku

Vocal solo:
・ The Nightingale (Uguisu) 1944, Composed by Fumio Hayasaka, lyrics by Haruo Sato

Voice + shakuhachi:
・ Story Telling on a Winter's Night (Samuyo Mukashi-banashi) 1986, Composed by Akihiko Takeuchi
・ In the Gardens of Japan 2002, Composed by Yuka Takechi, lyrics by Kenny Fries
・ Death Songs, 2002, Jay Reise
・ Calligraphy, 1999, Vlastislav Matousek
・ Song of Atitlan, 1975, Composed by Christopher Yohmei, Mika Kimula

Songs of Twentieth Century Japan:
・ Spider Lilies (Higan'bana) 1922, Composed by Kosaku Yamada, lyrics by Hakushu Kitahara
・ Song of the Gondola (Gondora no Uta) 1915, Composed by Shimpei Nakayama, lyrics by Isamu Yoshii
・ A Doll with Blue Eyes (Aoime no Ningyo) 1921, Composed by Nagayo Moto'ori, Lyrics by Ujo Noguchi, Arrangement by Robin Berger
・ The Rain at Jogashima Island (Jogashima no Ame )
・ Three Songs from Medieval Japan (Chuseifu no Mittsu no Uta) (@) Aware (A) Hayashi-kotoba (B) Shi-te-ten! 1980, Composed by Kikuko Massumoto

(The Feb. 23rd program at Sarah Lawrence College will include piano accompaniment by Mariko Sato)

　

IHJ Artists' Forum Concert Collaborative Grant Project

In the Gardens of Japan

Kenny Fries/Lyrics
Yuka Takechi/Composition
Mika Kimula/Voice
Christopher Yohmei/Shakuhachi

Date: November 22, 2002 7:00 PM
Venue: The International House of Japan Lecture Hall 5-11-16 Roppongi. Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-3470-3211
Admission is free, but please call or E-mail for reservations.E-Mail: arts@I-house.or.jp

Poet and non fiction writer Kenny Fries, presently in Japan on the Japan-US Creative Artists' Exchange Fellowship, will collaborate with composer Yuka Takechi, vocalist Mika Kimula and shakuhachi artists Christopher Yohmei in a concert of poetry set to music. "In the Gardens of Japan" will feature a series of poems inspired by several of Japan's famous gardens.

Foreign Correspondent's Club Culture Series Presents

Politics of the Sublime:

Learning a Traditional Japanese Instrument

Lecture/Performance by Christopher Yohmei Blasdel

  • 6:30 PM Wednesday, September 4, 2002
  • Foreign Correspondent's Club Japan (20th Fl. Yurakucho Denki Bldg, North Tower) 03-3211-3161
  • Admission ＼1500 (price includes full course buffet dinner).
  • Reservations required. Please inquire directly to Foreign Correspondent's Club.

The first of FCCJ's Japan culture series in September will feature Christopher Yohmei Blasdel, award-winning author and shakuhachi performer. Blasdel's subject is Japanese music. A resident of Japan for more than 30 years, the native Texan is one of the few foreigners to have worked his way up through the traditional music (hogaku) world. As a shakuhachi (vertical bamboo flute) master, he has been accepted both as a professional hogaku performer and hogaku teacher. Although Blasdel is deeply involved and enamored of his adopted musical culture, his experiences in dealing with the formalities of the traditional music world have not always been as sublime as the music. In fact, he feels that many of the attitudes the Japanese hold toward their own music and traditional culture are indicative of deeper insecurities relating to their role in the international community. Author of the award-winning nonfiction work Shakuhachi Odyssey, Blasdel will offer insights into shakuhachi music interspersing his talk with a short performance.

Saturday, Sunday: June 29-30, 2002

Sound Body

Shakuhachi & Dance

Christopher Yohmei (Shakuhachi) & Hideo Arai (Dance)

Christopher Yohmei will team up with dancer Hideo Arai to present a program of dances accompanied by shakuhachi at the SUTRA Ampitheater near downtown Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This concert is part of SUTRA's "Under the Stars" series, which features accomplished dancers and musicians from around the world in the lush, natural setting of the outdoor ampitheater at SUTRA.

Time: June 29-30, 8:30 PM

Place: SUTRA 12 Persiara Titiwangsa 3, Kuala Lumpur 53200,
Phone 4021-1029 sutra@hotmail.com

Admission: 30 Ringet

Program:

  • SPIRAL Music by Christopher Yohmei, Daiske Akagi/Dance and choreography by Hideo Arai

  • BYOH Music by Ryohei Hirose/Shakuhachi by Christopher Yohmei/Dance and choreography by Hideo Arai

  • KOTOHOGI Music by Christopher Yohmei/Dance and choreography by Hideo Arai

Thursday, June 13, 2002

Shakuhachi & Sax

Blowing East and West

Christopher Yohmei (Shakuhachi) & Damon Lee (Tenor Sax)

New York based composer/saxophinist Damon Lee, presently in Japan on a Japan Foundation Artists' Grant, will team up with Christopher Yohmei to present a wide variety of pieces, from contemporary Hogaku to jazz favorites and originals.

Time: Thursday, June 13, 7:00 PM

Place: WA-ON (03-5850-8033) Three minute walk from South Exit, JR Yamanote Line, Nippori Station.

Map→　http://www.hogaku.com/waon/index.html)

Admission: 2800 yen (includes one drink)

Program:

HIROSE Ryohei, "Byo" for shakuhachi solo/Charlie PARKER: "Billie's Bounce"/TAKAHASHI Yuji: "Shigure," "Kagerou," "Katsuragi" for shakuhachi solo/Duke ELLINGTON: "In a Sentimental Mood"/ Damon LEE: "Breath" for shakuhachi and saxophone (world premier)/ Damon LEE + Christopher YOHMEI: "Rokudan Deconstructed" for shakuhachi and saxophone (world premier).. and more!

Friday, May 17, 2002

Sam Hamill & Christopher Yohmei

HEART of BAMBOO

Poetry Reading with Musical Accompaniment

Featuring Christopher Yohmei on the shakuhachi

Friday, May 17th, 7:00 PM, IHJ Lecture Hall

Hamill's poem are ones of humility and thankfulness. Raised in the West and influenced by the great Chinese and Japanese masters, his poems draw from both traditions, returning us "to that world beyond words, which are only a reflection of desire." Hamill will read his poetry in accompaniment to Christopher Yohmei Blasdel's shakuhachi. Hamill, who came to Japan as a recipient of the US-Japan Creative Arts Fellowship in 1988, has written more than thirty volumes of poetry, three collections of essays, and translations in several languages, including many ancient Japanese and Chinese masters, from whence comes much of his inspiration and aesthetic sense. His Destination Zero: Poems, 1970-1995 (Pine Press, 1995) received a Pushcart Prize and his poetry collection, Gratitude (BOA Editions Ltd., 1998), was a finalist for the 1999 Independent Publisher Book Award in Poetry. In 2000, BOA published Hamill's Crossing the Yellow River: Three Hundred Poems from the Chinese. He is a contributing editor for The American Poetry Review, directs the Port Townsend Writers' Conference, and is editor at Copper Canyon Press at Port Townsend. Hamill and Blasdel will perform selections of poetry from their 1999 CD collaboration, Heart of Bamboo. This program is co-sponsored by the Tokyo American Center.

Admission is Free (Reservations requested). For Further


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