The Sound of World Music with Chris!

So if I was ever trying to have a break from piano playing, it turns out my hopes were inevitably dashed, because at the end of the day, I just can't resist playing whenever, wherever to whoever doing whatever!

I've been steadily doing more and more playing for various things, choirs, schools, soloists, little bits and pieces here and there, and then one of the gentlemen from the choir I was singing in asked me if I would like to do a little concert for his international society, as well as teaching the members some simple songs from England to sing at the performance too.

So, in September the performance was held, in the small town next to Nanyo -Takahata. The venue was a beautiful cosy circular hall called 'Hirosuke Hall' - and never realised it was a hall until I arrived there to play - thinking it actually some kind of architects designer houses, with an interesting slanting oval roof that really stands out among the rest of the uniform Japanese-style houses.

ALL Japanese concerts I've noticed MUST have interesting titles (this must be a stipulation required by the Ministy of Culture, in an effort to make concerts seem more interesting and appealing amidst all the Pokemon and crazy electronic contraptions that fly about the rest of Japan.) Some of the concerts I've been a part of have included 'Dream Concert', 'Thanks Concert', and then this is painted on a big wooden board that is hung above the stage. So obviously - my concert needed an interesting title - and they didn't disappoint me!

'THE SOUND OF WORLD MUSIC WITH CHRIS!' and then in Japanese 'クリスと一緒に歌いましょう！’　which translates as 'Let's sing together with Chris!'

It's definitely, plain-to-see-for-all: 'with Chris'!

The interesting thought that passed through my mind when I saw 'the sound of world music...' was that when I think of 'World Music'...I think of African drums, Spanish guitar, Moldovian folk music, Inuit throat singing etc. - however, obviously when the Japanese think of 'World Music' they think of 'Elgar', 'Mozart' 'Beethoven' - as that was the kind of thing I was playing. Perhaps if I was playing traditional English folk songs on some kind of fiddle, or recorder...I don't know, maybe that would be more 'English-style worldy music'? I wonder what they would actually consider a performance of Inuit throat singing - 'the sound of Alien music' 'the sound of Universe music' 'the sound of....well we don't actually know because we never knew Inuit's ever existed before...'

But whether or not they had any expectations of me performing 'world music' or just classical music, they all seemed to enjoy it. There was a nice baby grand Yamaha piano - and about 50-60 people came along to listen and support (and it just so happened that my bro, Kieran, Becky and Chris were in Yamagata at the same time - to further enhance the international flavor of the concert!)

This was kind of the first recital I'd ever done, so I was excited and a little nervous. I tried to make my programme accessible, entertaining and informative - containing things that the audience would probably know; my favorite pieces from my favorite composers; and I played the English National Anthem too, in the form of a 'theme and variations' by Beethoven!

After my performance of 40 minutes or so, the small choir sang a few English songs (very simple) like 'Row row row your boat', 'London Bridge' 'Greensleeves' and 'Loch Lomond' (yes, I told them it was from Scotland but they wouldn't listen to me!) and then they had invited a cool jazz guitarist who lives in the town, called Fujio Takeda. It was nice to be able to play some jazz and jam with him. He's a pretty talented man - nice but very modest and soft spoken, but very good playing style and improvisational skills, and also composes original songs too, which are very nice. His normal job is a small car mechanic with a garage at his house. Jazz is not the easiest thing for me, so it was good to get an opportunities to have a go at it again!

I got coverage in the prefectural newspaper, and the more exciting thing was that the local cable TV company came to record the whole thing - so I could well be on TV too with my performance!

After the concert, I got quite a few politely-angry messages from various people I work with or acquaintances who said they didn't know about the concert and would have liked to come! SO, in Spring I've decided I'm going to have another piano recital - I'll organize it myself if I have to, only this time it will be held in my very own Nanyo city! Wooo! Get your tickets booked for spring!

Yatta the concert was a 成功! (Success!)