Workshops, Lectures and Concerts
Concerts 2008
December
November
October
Three of Nepal’s finest traditional musicians will be touring Wales – and Wales alone - this October in their first performances outside the Sub-Continent. Nepalis regard music as a deeply spiritual activity and essential to every aspect of life, and the members are anxious to share their country’s culture with a Welsh audience. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, its currency has little international value, and this is a very rare opportunity, (generously supported by the Arts Council of Wales ‘Night Out’ Scheme), for Westerners to experience Nepali culture.
The trio’s repertoire includes tunes dating back to the 12th century, and from different ethnic groups and castes across their very diverse nation - women’s songs, ballads, religious and sacred music, and music relating episodes from the great Hindu epics such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana. They perform on authentic Nepali folk instruments, including Maadal (Nepali drum), Saarangi (a four stringed viol), Baansuri (transverse bamboo flute), Jhaamtar (a plucked 2 stringed instrument), Majiraa (small brass cymbals) and Shankha (conch shell).
They will be playing in the following venues, often with Welsh musicians in support, and several venues will be offering workshops to both children and adults:
- St Mark’s Church, Wrexham: Thu 23rd October
- Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, Llanbedrog: 7.30pm Fri 24th October
- Anglican Chaplaincy, Bangor: Sat 25th October
- Taliesin Centre, Swansea: Sun 26th October
- Bodelwyddan Castle, Denbighshire: Wed 29th October
- Y Tabernacle, Machynlleth: Thu 30th October
- Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon: Fri 31st October
- Ucheldre Centre, Holyhead: Sun 2nd November
Ram Prasad Kadel, Director of the Nepali Folk Musical Instrument Museum in Kathmandu and the group’s mentor, will be introducing their performances. He also administers a charity that supports Nepali musicians: in spite of the importance of music in national life, the players themselves have always held a lowly social position, regarded as Dalit or ‘untouchable’. Twelve years of civil war, the impacts of mass tourism and the Western media, have made Nepalese traditional culture more vulnerable than ever. By giving Ram and Trio Naatyashwora an opportunity to share their joy in a unique tradition, audiences will also be strengthening their work at home, and helping to preserve a threatened culture.
August
July
© Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw Arts Centre 2008
