SOAS WORLD MUSIC SUMMER SCHOOL 2004

Kurdish Week 21-25 June
This will be the first time that a complete week will be devoted to showcase and exhibit elements of Kurdish music and dance. The course will feature musicians, dancers and scholars from different parts of Kurdistan and elsewhere. The course will conclude with an evening concert on the last day. Sponsored by KHAK Press & Media Centre, Ebrahim Ahmed Foundation, KRG EU Mission and the Kurdish Cultural Centre (KCC).

Concert of Kurdish Music and Dance
Date: Friday 25 June

Cuban Bata Drumming 5-9 July
Batá drumming is the most sacred and complex form of music in the Afrocuban religion of Santería. It is the cornerstone of Cuban percussion. Deceptively simple individual parts combine and interlock in fiendishly inventive ways to create powerful, moving rhythms that accompany songs for the Orishas (gods and goddesses, nature spirits). The course will be taught by omo aña (initiated bata drummer) Crispin Robinson. He has performed bata and Orisha music in Cuba, the USA, and the UK for over 12 years and studied with many masters of the tradition including Angel Bolaños, Esteban ‘Chacha’ Vega, Regino Jimenez, Amelia Pedroso, as well as performing in sacred ceremonies in Havana and Matanzas, Cuba.

Bulgarian and Macedonian Singing 5-9 JULY
Bulgarian singing has a unique style, whose rhythms and harmonies “melt” the soul, a vocal technique giving power to the voice and voice to the heart. In this workshop we will plunge into this living tradition by learning songs in two and three-part harmony. The workshop will be taught by Dessislava Stefanova from the Philip Koutev Bulgarian State Folk Ensemble. Course Fee: £60 (concessions £35)

Concert with the London Bulgarian Choir and the Dessibelles Date: Friday 9 July

Zimbabwean Music and Dance 5-9 JULY
This unique spiritual journey will take you into the world of the Zezuru people. The instruments feature the sacred Mbira, Deze [gourd] and Hosho [shakers for timing polyrhythmic feel] taught by internationally renowned Chartwell Dutiro and musicians from Spirit Talk Mbira band. There will be dance taught by Anna Mudeka and Mbira style guitar playing taught by Chris Morphitis. This insightful and entertaining week is designed to be informal, hands-on and enjoyable, providing people with an overview of Zimbabwean culture.

Mongolian Khoomii Overtone Singing 12-18 JULY
Khöömii is an amazing style of overtone/harmonic singing where one person sings two or more distinct pitches at the same time. Khöömii originates from the central Asian plateau, particularly the Altai and Sayan mountain regions of Mongolia and Tuva. The nomads of these parts have discovered how to sing melodies that arise from the overtone or harmonic series, a universal series from which all sounds are born. Listen to your own overtones as you discover the unknown depths and heights of your own voice through the enchanting sounds of Khöömii.

Concert: Michael Ormiston and Candida Valention Play Traditional Mongolian Melodies on Traditional Mongolian Instruments Inspired by their Journeys in Asia. Date: Sunday 18 July

Thai Music and Dance 12-16 JULY This course will teach you new musical skills on traditional Thai instruments. You will learn to play Thai melodies and follow the intricate steps of the beautiful dances that accompany these ancient tunes. Music will be taught in the mornings and dance in the afternoons, so everyone will have a chance to learn both subjects. However, if you have a strong leaning towards one or the other, it may be possible for you to concentrate on that subject, if you let us know in advance. Your teachers will be the respected Thai performers Poranee Johnston (dance), Dusadee Swangviboonpong and Paphustorn “Koong” Wongratanapitak (music).

Concert: The Thai Music Circle and the Thai Dance Academy Date: Friday 16 July

Japanese Noh Dance and Music 12-17 JULY
This unique six-day course in Japan’s classical dance-drama is taught by the dynamic young performer Ryoko AOKI of the Kanze school of Noh. Participants will learn to both sing and dance a short excerpt from the finale of the Noh play Hagoromo, “The Robe of Feathers”. You will also gain some experience of the instrumental parts in order to improve coordination in performance. Saturday afternoon will be our student recital - invite your friends!

Arabic ’UD (LUTE) 19-24 JULY
This course is a wonderful opportunity for beginners and advanced players to be taught by the internationally recognised performer Ahmed Mukhtar, who was trained in Iraq and Syria. Since the beginnings of Arabian musical history, the lute enjoyed immense popularity and was not absent from any festive and jovial social gathering. Still today, the tender and sweet sound of the ’ud fascinates the Arabian listener, who occasionally compares the tone to the voice of a nightingale.

Arabic Darbuka Drum 26-31 JULY
The darbuka, a hand-drum common throughout the Arab cultural sphere, originates from the Middle East around 2000 years ago. Askilled player can tease a wide range of beautiful sharp and blunt sounds from this “goblet drum”. It is an easy instrument to learn and produces evocative feelings. This course is a great opportunity for both advanced and beginning students to be taught by the distinguished percussion expert Ahmed Mukhtar.

OT AZOY! Yiddish Crash Course 1 ­ 6 AUGUST
An inspiring and captivating crash course for beginner and intermediate levels, devised by Dr Khayele Beer (UCL) with Peysach Fiszman (NY), Sonia Pinkusowitz (Brussels), singer Shura Lipovsky (Amsterdam) and film Barry Davis.

Rebetiko 6-8 AUGUST
Rebetiko have been called "The Greek blues”, a music born among Greek immigrants from Asia Minor to the working-class areas of Athens, Piraeus and Thessaloniki in the early 20th century. The magical combination of Western polyphony with Byzantine and oriental monophony will be explored during this intensive weekend course on Rebetiko rhythm, dance, lyrics and performance.

Klezfest LONDON 2004, 8 - 12 AUGUST
Klezmer music and dance with a parallel course in Jewish song. Learn the style, rhythm, ornamentation and repertoire in workshops and masterclasses with a faculty of the brightest Klezmer luminaries and exponents of Jewish song from around the world: Alan Bern, instrumental course director, (accordion/piano); Michael Alpert (dance and fiddle); Merlin Shepherd, Christian Dawid (Clarinets); Deborah Strauss, Sophie Solomon (fiddle); Jeff Warschauer (plucked strings); Josh Dolgin, Sanne Möricke (Accordian/piano); Stuart Brotman (Bass Instruments); Jonathan Walton (Brass) Adrian Cooper (Yiddish song and Course Director) Shura Lipovsky (Yiddish song)Sara Manasseh (Judeo-Arabic song) Yvonne Behar (Judeo-Spanish song) Ruti Halvani (Jewish Art Song) and Alexandra Yaron (Berlin Cabaret)

To contact us or for more info: website www.soas.ac.uk/summermusic; e-mail worldmusic@soas.ac.uk; telephone (last resort!) 020-7898 4515