ONGAKU is a three-day festival and cultural exchange celebrating some of Japan and Canada’s most exciting voices in contemporary and experimental music (September 20-22, 2019, Toronto). TENMC will be joined by visiting guest artists Miyama McQueen-Tokita (bass koto), Ko Ishikawa (shō), Ami Yamasaki (voice) and Akiko Nakayama (’alive painting’), as well as Toronto-based Urbanvessel, featuring Germaine Liu (percussion), Aki Takahashi (shamisen/voice) and Sonja Rainey (projections/installation). ONGAKU showcases world premieres by Canadian composers Hiroki Tsurumoto, Juliet Palmer, and Daryl Jamieson, alongside new works by Japanese composers Yuka Shibuya, Takeo Hoshiya, and the Canadian premiere of compositions by Toshiya Watanabe, Yoshiaki Onishi, Jo Kondo, Malika Kishino, and Miya Masaoka. Program Information Thin Edge New Music Collective ONGAKU Sept 20-22, 2019 918 Bathurst | Culture, Arts, Media and Education, Toronto, ON Tickets: Festival Pass: General $50, Student/Senior/Arts Worker $35 Single Ticket: General $20, Student/Senior/Arts Worker $15
Concert 1: Sept 20, 2019, Doors 7:30pm / Concert 8:00pm • 918 Bathurst
An evening of chamber works by Tōru Takemitsu, Miya Masaoka, and the Canadian premiere of Malika Kishino’s ‘Qualia’ for bass koto and 10-channel electronics. World premieres by Hiroki Tsurumoto, Takeo Hoshiya and Yuka Shibuya. Featuring guest artists Ko Ishikawa (shō), Miyama McQueen-Tokita (bass koto) + Akiko Nakayama (‘alive painting’/projections).
Workshop: Sept 21, 2019, 11am-1pm • Canadian Music Centre Chalmers Performance Space • FREE Join us at the CMC for a free workshop with guest artists Ko Ishikawa and Miyama McQueen-Tokita. Learn about the intricacies of writing for traditional Japanese instruments (shō and bass koto) in a contemporary music setting. Includes a panel discussion with composers Daryl Jamieson, Hiroki Tsurumoto, Yuka Shibuya, and Takeo Hoshiya. Concert 2: Sept 21, 2019, Doors 7:30pm / Concert 8:00pm • 918 Bathurst TENMC performs works by Jo Kondo and Yoshiaki Onishi with improvisations by Miyama McQueen-Tokita, followed by a set of creative music by guest artists Ko Ishikawa (shō), Ami Yamasaki (voice), and Akiko Nakayama (‘alive painting’) combining traditional Japanese instruments, extended vocal techniques and stunning visuals. Concert 3: Sept 22, 2019, Doors 7:30pm / Concert 8:00pm • 918 Bathurst Works by Yuka Shibuya and Toshiya Watanabe (Canadian premiere) alongside the world premieres of large-scale multimedia works “Utamakura 5: Mount Kamakura” by Daryl Jamieson and “Ukiyo, floating world” by Juliet Palmer of Urbanvessel. Featuring guest artist Miyama McQueen-Tokita (bass koto), and Urbanvessel performers Germaine Liu (percussion), Aki Takahashi (shamisen/vocalist) with Sonja Rainey (projections/installation).
Guest Artists: Ko Ishikawa – shō Ami Yamasaki – voice Akiko Nakayma – ‘alive painting’/live projections Miyama McQueen-Tokita – bass koto
TENMC Performers: Amahl Arulanandam – cello Suhashini Arulanandam – violin Cheryl Duvall – piano/co-artistic director Terry Lim – flutes Nathan Petitpas – percussion Anthony Thompson – clarinet Aysel Taghi-Zada – viola Ilana Waniuk – violin/co-artistic director
Urbanvessel: Juliet Palmer – composer/artistic director Germaine Liu – percussion Aki Takahashi – shamisen/voice Sonja Rainey – projections/installation
Lighting Design/Technical Director – Kai Masaoka Sound Director – Paul Hodge
Performance Dates: Approximate Run Time: 90 minutes Friday, Sept 20, 2019 – 8:00pm Saturday, Sept 21, 2019 – 8:00pm Sunday, Sept 22, 2019 – 8:00pm
ONGAKU is presented with generous support from the Canada Council for the Arts, The Japan Foundation, Arraymusic, Dream Cymbals, Urbanvessel and the Canadian Music Centre.
