Four young members of the multi-award-winning Japanese folk music group Abeya provide a mix of song, dance, drumming, bamboo flutes, and the powerful, addictive 3-string tsugaru-jamisen. Abeya’s diverse repertoire ranges across highly ornamented ballads, dance songs, lullabies and work songs. The group has been praised for their ability to enchant audiences with not only their talent but also their highly engaging approach using humour, interaction, and poignant explanations to help make the music relevant to international audiences.
The folk traditions of Japan face ever-increasing competition from Western-influenced popular and classical genres for the attention and affection of young Japanese. When young performers such as Abeya can engage not only Japanese youth but foreign audiences, the effect on those folk traditions is extremely positive.
Entry is free, but please arrive around 6.30 to ensure a seat at this special event. No advance booking is possible.
For more information about this event please see:
http://www.soas.ac.uk/music/events/concerts/15mar2013-japanese-folk-tunes–tales—for-everyone.html