East Meets West at Converse Through Music From Japan

The Petrie School of Music at Converse College is pleased to announce the return of  Music From Japan under the direction of award winning director, Naoyuki Miura, February 28 at 8:00 PM. The event will be held in Daniel Recital Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

"As in their previous visit in 2005, virtuoso musicians will share the very best of traditional Japanese music on instruments rarely heard in this part of the world," states Sarah Spigner, spokesperson for Petrie School of Music. "In addition, they will offer contemporary works by some of Japan’s finest composers."

Modern and traditional works have been selected for their use of ma, the Japanese concept that has been described as the "powerful silence" in music. Artists include Japanese virtuosi Yasunori Yamaguchi, percussion; Mayumi Miyata, sho (mouth organ); Hitomi Nakamura, hichiriki (double reed); Takeshi Sasamoto, ryuteki (flute) and haisho (pan flute). The performance will include time-honored gagaku pieces and works of internationally acclaimed composer Toru Takemitsu. Music from Japan is unique in the way they combine traditional sounds with the compositional craft and structure of the contemporary Western art music.

"This will be an exciting event due to the barriers it crosses—barriers between East and West and barriers between ancient and exciting," says Scott Robbins, Associate Dean of The Petrie School of Music. "The traditional Japanese instruments certainly are not familiar characters in Daniel Recital Hall, and their exotic sounds will lend the evening a definite Asian flavor. The group’s performance will allow the audience to gain an understanding of the origins of this music."

For more than thirty years Music From Japan has traveled the globe promoting contemporary Japanese music, presenting styles, instruments and artists that the West has had little opportunity to enjoy. Since its inception in 1975, Music From Japan has toured throughout the Americas, Central Asia and Japan performing more than 300 works by 100 Japanese composers. Recent tours featured composer’s concerts, symposiums and other events that have served to expand the audience for Japanese music and stimulate intercultural communication between Eastern and Western artists.

"We are pleased to present Music From Japan," Spigner adds. "Our audience is in for a treat."

For more information contact Sarah Spigner at 864-596-9193.

Because of its reputation, and commitment to instruction and performance, the Converse setting is uniquely apt to serve as the stage for Music From Japan. In 2005, Converse’s Petrie School of Music became the first women’s college in the U.S. and the first college in the Carolinas to be named an All-Steinway School.  Its Alia Lawson Pre-College Program welcomes the community of young people to the arts, and features recitals in music and dance. In addition to having fo