Yiddish Academy Tokyo vol.7

7th Eastern European Jewish Music Workshop

Yiddish Academy Tokyo vol.7

Tuesday, February 4th to Sunday, February 9th, 2025

10:30-12:40, 14:00-17:30 each day (14:00-17:30 only on February 4th)

*On the final day, there will be a recital rehearsal (morning) and a concert and recital (afternoon)

Theater: Theater X (Kai), Ryogoku, Tokyo

Access: http://www.theaterx.jp/access.php

[Instructors]

Dr. Alan Bern (accordion, piano),

Mark Kovnatskiy (violin, Yiddish dance)

Sayumi Yoshida (Yiddish dance)

Dr. Diana Matut (Yiddish folk song)

[Target audience]

Professional musicians, music college students, amateur musicians, dancers, actors, directors, and others who are interested. *Those who do not play instruments can also participate.

[Capacity] Approximately 30 people

[Participation fee] General ¥30,000, university students ¥20,000 (tax included, all 6 days)

Participation is possible daily. General ¥6,000/day, university students ¥4,000/day (tax included)

Only on Tuesday, February 4th, general ¥3,000/day, university students ¥2,000/day (tax included)

Working students will be considered as "general" participants.

Participation application form ↓

https://shorturl.asia/QtMuU

Efficiently learn instrumental music, dance, and folk songs with a crash course program for Japanese people!

Klezmer is a highly artistic music that is a traditional culture of Eastern European Jews. It is not easy to learn this in Japan, but this workshop is a great opportunity to learn efficiently under the guidance of selected lecturers from overseas. This time, we will welcome Dr. Diana Matut, a leading researcher in Yiddish folk music, who will give a special lecture every day. In addition to learning Yiddish dance, which is closely related to klezmer music, this is a rare opportunity to learn deeply about Yiddish folk music, which symbolizes Eastern European Jewish culture.

[Concert]

Eastern European Jewish Music Klezmer Concert - Melodies of Chagall's Homeland vol.18

Yiddish Music Special Concert 2025

A Journey to Ashkenazi Music Roots for the Ashkenazi Music

Sunday, February 9, 2025, 15:00 start (after-performance meeting until 17:00)

Theater: Theater X (Kai), Ryogoku, Tokyo

Participation fee: ¥1,000, ¥500 for high school students and younger

Application form↓

https://forms.gle/WkZsALj8f6yxdiPx9

Performers: Chizu Hinoue (clarinet, commentary), Ryota Hamajima (flute), Hitomi Niikura (cello), Fumi Watanabe (drums), and others

Special guests: Alan Byrne (accordion, piano), Mark Kovnatzky (violin, dance)

Sayumi Yoshida (dance), Diana Matut (Yiddish folk song)

At the concert on the final day of the workshop, we will present the results of our work in three areas with four instructors. In the Klezmer Music section, we will focus on the non-dance music that accompanies the important ceremonies of traditional weddings in the shtetl, which Chagall loved to paint, and will approach not only its traditional aspects but also its musical creativity. In the Yiddish Folk Song section, we will take up the vaguely defined term "folk song" and introduce the singing culture related to weddings, dating back to the Renaissance and up to modern times. In the Yiddish Dance section, we will present a performance that focuses on the communication between music and dance.

This is a rare opportunity to share a comprehensive understanding of Ashkenazi Jewish music culture, which is difficult to trace historically and systematically. We hope you will participate.

[Kyoto Performance] 

Eastern European Jewish Music Klezmer Concert - Melodies of Chagall's Homeland

A Journey to Ashkenazi Music Roots for the Ashkenazi Music

Date: February 11, 2025 (National Holiday) 14:00 

 Venue: Kyoto City Kita Cultural Center 3rd floor Creative Activities Room

Access

https://www.kyoto-ongeibun.jp/kita/access/

Participation fee: ¥3,500 in advance, ¥4,000 on the day, ¥2,000 for university students,

¥2,000 for those with a disability certificate* (same price for up to one accompanying person who requires assistance)

Free for high school students and younger (please show student certificate, etc.)

Participants Performed: Chizu Hikami (clarinet, commentary), Ryota Hamajima (flute), Hitomi Niikura (cello), Fumi Watanabe (drums), and others.

Special guests: Alan Byrne (accordion, piano), Mark Kovnatzky (violin, dance)

Sayumi Yoshida (dance), Diana Matut (Yiddish folk song)

*Contents are the same as the Tokyo performance

Participation application form↓

https://forms.gle/fxL4xajqxiCsbn178