Japanese Music in Europe

General
#1

Hello all! How are you??

I’ve been away for some time, due to studies and some dwelling on other musical styles, but I would like to know, or even gather people in Europe who are playing/singing Japanese music.

Right now, I’m living in Northern Germany, doing masters in operatic singing, but I’ve been playing quite a bit of Shakuhachi here, and I got curious if there’s anyone in the vicinity playing or even learning Minyo, or variants.

If you live in Europe, give me a shoutout :slight_smile:
It would be lovely to jam some traditional Japanese music.

Cheers,

Gustavo

#2

Hey Gustavo!

Oh snap! I’ll be in Germany (Berlin) this December to lead some shamisen workshops with Bachido member Aki Takahashi! If you have some free time, we should meet up! :slight_smile:

#3

Hey Gustavo. I’m shouting out :slight_smile: I would definately be interested but it’s a bit from Sweden. Sounds like I might be going to Berlin in December then!

#4

Guten tag Gustavo, I’m in Yorkshire, England, playing koto and some nagauta/minyo shamisen and taiko. You maybe able to find players closer to you using the area search tool on the Bachido site.

#5

Nice to hear from you guys!! Thank you for the messages and tips!

So, Berlin it is!! Kyle, do you have a date already?
Karl, it will be awesome!! :smiley:

Michael, Guten Tag :slight_smile:
I might go to London in August to sing a opera. I’m still waiting for the audition results, but I’ll let you know. In any case, good to know you are close!

Cheers!

#6

Awesome! :slight_smile: I believe it will be around Dec. 8th~14th. Shouldn’t be toooo chilly~ (?) :stuck_out_tongue:

#7

Hello there. Nice to meet other Shamisen-interestees! :slight_smile:
We are planning to encourage and expand the German Shamisen community. Very soon (like in the next 2 weeks) the website of www.shamisen-berlin.de will be online and there we will inform about everything that is new about the definitely awesome workshops with Kyle and Takahashi san (Thanks in advance).

You already can write to info@shamisen-berlin.de and I will put you onto the news-list. If you’re ever near Berlin (that’s where I live) let me know.

Maybe we can help you find a fine stay at berlin for that week. Me personally I’m going out of beds but there might be one or two more beds somewhere in Berlin. :wink:

Best wishes
Tina

#8

Nice to see something happen in this side of the world!

#9

Hi Gustavo,
I am based in London and performing and teaching.
It will be great if we can gather somewhere in Europe!

Anyway, please let me know when you visit in U,K.
I also will be performing in Berlin in the middle of September!
I will let you know when I get the details.

Kind regards,

Hibiki Ichikawa
www.hibikishamisen.com

#10

Nice to see something happen in this side of the world!

About time, isn’t it! :slight_smile:

Many thanks, Tina! These workshops will be the first major Bachido EU gatherings, and will hopefully be the first of many more gatherings! (Either spontaneous or official) :slight_smile:

#11

Hibiki Ichikawa san,

great to hear from you. I also would be interested about the details of your stay at Berlin.
I’m in contact with 15 Shamisen interested persons in Germany (at the moment and growing) and most of them in and around Berlin. If you do have time during your stay, we would be very glad to get lessons.

Best wishes
Tina

#12

Awesome guys, thank you so much for the responses!!

I’m currently in Lübeck now, but it’s pretty easy to go to Berlin. Ichikawa-san, please let me know then! It would be lovely to meet you and hear your music!

Kyle, sadly, during the 2nd week of December, I’m in a tour on UAE… I might be able to return on the 14th, but, I still can’t say for sure…

Liebe Martina, that is great to hear! I am well versed on Minyo and Tsugaru-Shamisen aesthetics, so, if you need any help, please tell me! On 22.7 I am going to Berlin for a small recording session, so, we could meet as well.

All the best!

Gustavo

#13

I´m from Kassel and 95% chances I´m attending the BASHido (sorry, couldn´t resist) in December. Just waiting for the dates and I´ll find time.

#14

Now it’s moving: the Shamisen Berlin Website is online.
www.shamisen-berlin.de

And we will inform you about all the workshop news at “workshops”. :slight_smile:

#15

Very nice, Tina! I like the simplicity! (perhaps I mentioned that before?) Very classy. :slight_smile:

Thank you for the English option too! :stuck_out_tongue:

#16

How many are you in the German community right now? I’m a bit curious about what the members are after most. Is it minyo or tsugaru and improv?

#17

17 right now (in the area of Berlin) and 26 followers on Facebook. And it’s just a start. Because of the Website release last friday we expect to get better known in the future. The interests of the members are individual. Some of them are interested in minyo other more in modern improv. But almost all of them are interested in basic technique and some real life experience which is hard to get without any instrument.

Let’s wait and see. I’m already excited. :slight_smile:

#18

Wow! That’s great! Congratulations that you’ve already found so many people so quickly! (considering that it’s shamisen we’re talking about, 17 people in one area is quite a healthy amount :slight_smile: )

Anyone playing this, whether wanting to uphold tradition or expand their horizons with the shamisen, is wonderful! I’m very excited to here this. Good work, Tina! :slight_smile:

#19

Workshop with Hibiki Ichikawa sensei in Berlin february 2015. :smiley:
http://shamisen-berlin.de/en/workshops

workshop days
friday, 13th february 2015
• 15:30 - 17:30
• 18:00 - 20:00
saturday, 14th february 2015
• 11:00 - 13:00
• 14:00 - 16:00

workshop prices
2 days
early bird registration (until 23rd january): 40€ for Shamisen Berlin members / 60€ for external participants
late applicants (from 24th january on): 50€ for Shamisen Berlin members / 70€ for external participants

1 day
early bird registration (until 23rd january): 25€ for Shamisen Berlin members / 35€ for external participants
late applicants (from 24th january on): 30€ for Shamisen Berlin members / 40€ for external participants

location
Still dependent on the number of participants, but definitely within walking distance to the Berlin public transport network.
Thank you for your registration as soon as possible if interested.

application
via info@shamisen-berlin.de
Please let us know if you bring your own shamisen or if you need one. There is only a very limited number of instruments for exercise available.

#20

Congratulations, Martina!! :smiley: I’m happy to see this. I hope this will be the first of many such workshops to make shamisen accessible in Berlin!

© 2020 Kyle Abbott