UNISON STUDY GUIDE

Transcription

1 UNISON STUDY GUIDE

2 ABOUT UNISON Unison's message is unity through music, with diverse instruments coming together as one united force to create an interactive musical experience. Drawing on classical and folk traditions from China, South Asia (India and Pakistan) and Zimbabwe, Unison demonstrates how musical styles from seemingly disparate reaches of the planet can make beautiful harmony. The group includes seasoned world music artists who have shared their music around the world and have vast experience interacting with children of all ages. Curtis Andrews (Mridangam, Mbira) Curtis is a Vancouver- based musician with global persuasions. A percussionist/composer/ teacher who creates music that is informed by his many years of experience with numerous music traditions of the world. A graduate of York University (BFA 2001), his personal musical journeys over the years have extended to villages and metropolises of Ghana, Benin, India, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and he has developed a deep knowledge of the history and performance of music from these areas. Nicole Li (Erhu, Qin) An active erhu performer, both as a solo artist and as a member of an ensemble, since 2000, Li is a much sought after performing artist in Vancouver. She is currently Concert Master of the B.C. Chinese Orchestra and gaohu soloist with the BC Chinese Music Ensemble. As a performing artist, Li is known for her interpretive expressiveness, stylistic versatility and ability to transverse a wide range of musical genres from the East to the West, from the traditional to the avant garde. Mohamed Assani (Sitar) Mohamed Assani is a celebrated sitar player, known for his creative musical collaborations with artists of all genres. He has performed across the globe - including in the UK, Canada, USA & Dubai - with orchestras, string quartets, hip hop artists, DJs, world music ensembles, jazz artists, and Indian and Western classical artists and, of course, solo. According to the Georgia Straight, Assani is both a musician who s deeply rooted in the artistic traditions of South Asia and a one-ofa- kind innovator.

3 ABOUT THE INSTRUMENTS Mridangam A mridangam is a percussion instrument from India of ancient origin. It is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in Carnatic music the classical music of South India. It is a double-sided drum whose body is usually made using a hollowed piece of jackfruit wood about an inch thick. The two mouths or apertures of the drum are covered with a goatskin and laced to each other with leather straps around the circumference of drum. Sitar A sitar is a plucked string instrument common to Classical Indian music, particularly in the Hindustani (northern Indian) classical traditions. The sitar is a fairly complicated musical instrument. It bears sympathetic strings (strings which are tuned, but not plucked - they simply vibrate and hum when the strings nearby are played), as well as movable frets. and over 20 strings! The sitar is played with a pick called a mizrab. Mbira The mbira is the classic instrument of Zimbabwe, with an entire musical genre developed around it. It consists of approximately flattened metal prongs which are fastened at one end to a wooden resonator body (usually some sort of box shape). The mbira sits in a calabash (gourd) which acts as it's resonator. Erhu The erhu is a two-stringed bowed musical instrument, more specifically a spike fiddle, which may also be called a "southern fiddle", and sometimes known in the Western world as the "Chinese violin" or a "Chinese two-stringed fiddle". It is used as a solo instrument as well as in small ensembles and large orchestras. Qin The qin is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family. It has been played since ancient times, and has traditionally been favored by scholars and literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement, as highlighted by the quote "a gentleman does not part with his qin or se without good reason," as well as being associated with the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius.

4 ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE Show Length: 50 minutes Location: School Gym or Theatre Technical: 2 tables, 1 chair, 2 power outlets (we bring our own sound system) Key Themes: Music as a Universal Language Language of Rhythm Migration Peace & Unity Cultural Diversity & Belonging How instruments are made Interactive Performance: Unison's show emphasizes unity through music with an energetic, playful and fiery performance. Sharing their process of empathetic listening, curiosity and play, Unison show how seemingly different people, instruments and traditions can find a connection and make beautiful harmony. The artists talk about where they and their instruments come from, while engaging the audience in an interactive global journey through music. Musical elements from China, India, Pakistan and Zimbabwe are shared through interactive rhythmic and melodic games and exercises. During the last piece, the audience contributes what they have learned to the artists' performance. Instruments used include erhu, qin, sitar, mbira and mridgangam. In one of the interactive activity the students will learn an an 8 beats rhythm/cycle used in Indian and will learn the following vocal sounds to incorporate with clapping patterns underneath. It would be helpful if they can learn/memorize the following 8 beat vocal syllable. Ta Ka Di Mi Ta Ka Ju Nu

5 CLASSROOM ACTIVITY Match each sentence, with one of the answers below: 1. Sitar is made from 2. The qin is associated with 3. The Mbira comes from The Mbira is also known as The mridangam is made from In Indian music, the word for rhythm is Erhu come from Answers: A. Tala B. A pumpkin or gourd C. Zimbabwe D. Animal Skin E. Water F. China G. Thumb piano (Answer Guide: 1B, 2E, 3C, 4G, 5D, 6A, 7F)