We will have a charity concert to support a music school for children in Palestine, at East Finchley Methodist Church in north London. All the donations will go to a nonprofit organisation, Al Kamandjâti, who runs the school in Ramallah in Palestine. The organisation offers music lesson for children who have to survive in poor and violent situation depriving opportunity of any kind of education.
Al Kamandjâti says “We must give our children the opportunity to think beyond soldiers and tanks. They must think creatively, not about the destruction of their country, but about rebuilding their civilization.”— quoted from Al Kamandjâti’s website
As being musician, we still want to believe a certain power of music to open up people’s imagination beyond a confined situation. Our hope is to hear a new music, new sound on different perspective, by those children in a future when they grow up, not sound of gun and missile.
To the programme, we are thinking to include some latest works, both new arrangements and compositions, and also, upon a request of the church, some pieces of guitar & piano which we have not played almost for a year. Let’s see what will happen..!
Melodica/Piano: Ayumi Toyama
Guitar: Ryusuke Koarashi
“Unconventional Convention Conventional Unconvention”
Date: 14th April (SUN)
Time 19:30 - 21:30
Venue: East Finchley Methodist Church
Address: High Road, East Finchley, London N2 8AJ
Collection in aid of Music school in Palestine (Al Kamandjâti)
Click here to download the flyer.
Click here to download the leaflet of Al Kamandjâti
17 Mar 2013
10 Mar 2013
Prelude
Pocket Penguin has been expanding their repertoire mainly by adapting various pieces with a view to exploring different possibilities of interpretation. Our repertoire is not all mentioned on the list, is constantly increasing and frequently being updated.
Recently we are taking a different approach to the sound world of melodica & guitar. What we are experimenting with is to find new sound material or different ways of producing sound on each instrument and then assembling them into a pattern or a time framework.
These fruits from our explorations are output as a series of "Preludes"—so named because we think they have some similarities to general aspect of conventional prelude, i.e. rather short duration, limited material and pattern, improvisatory—as some parts are left for the performers' judgement.
Our Prelude may include some "pre-removed" material, structure, and ambiguity from music. So we seem going back "before music", that is a place where the sound may not yet be called music, as in the Latin "Prae-ludere" which etymologically meant "before playing".
3 Mar 2013
A Concert at Union Chapel (The Daylight Music)
Pocket Penguin finished a performance on 2nd of March in the Daylight Music, a musical event regularly held at Union Chapel.
We would like to say thank you to all the people who were there listening to our performance warmly and carefully, and those who gave us good feedback, that will certainly encourage us to go to next step of music making. And also we would like to give special thanks to Ben who gave us the opportunity to play in such a nice venue, and stuffs who supported our performance.
Programme:
J.S Bach: Prelude from Cello Suite III
Ryusuke Koarashi: Walking through a forest
Pocket Penguin: Prelude I, III, IV
Ryusuke Koarashi: Çok Güzeller
Melodica: Ayumi Toyama
Guitar: Ryusuke Koarashi
We played 6 pieces. Prelude from Cello Suite III is a piece we recorded in the first album "A Bird Flying over Mountains" and played several times before. And all the rest of the programme was the first time to play in public.
The title “Walking through a forest” just came from an impression of the piece, like walking in a winding road in a forest and sometimes stopping suddenly and looking around.
Prelude I, III and IV are from a series of experimental pieces by Pocket Penguin, exploring sound material and combination of our instrument. We will describe more details of the series 'Prelude' later in our blog. You can have a glimpse of our rehearsal on Facebook, and also listen to Prelude I on Soundcloud.
“Çok Güzeller” was a piece Ryusuke has just made last week in a demand of rhythmic and “happy” repertoire of Pocket Penguin. The title is Turkish, meaning “very beautiful” in third person plural form. We wondered if someone noticed the Bach motif, a succession of notes, Bb A C B natural, used at somewhere in the piece. Our programme of this time actually began and ended with "Bach".
We would like to say thank you to all the people who were there listening to our performance warmly and carefully, and those who gave us good feedback, that will certainly encourage us to go to next step of music making. And also we would like to give special thanks to Ben who gave us the opportunity to play in such a nice venue, and stuffs who supported our performance.
Programme:
J.S Bach: Prelude from Cello Suite III
Ryusuke Koarashi: Walking through a forest
Pocket Penguin: Prelude I, III, IV
Ryusuke Koarashi: Çok Güzeller
Melodica: Ayumi Toyama
Guitar: Ryusuke Koarashi
We played 6 pieces. Prelude from Cello Suite III is a piece we recorded in the first album "A Bird Flying over Mountains" and played several times before. And all the rest of the programme was the first time to play in public.
The title “Walking through a forest” just came from an impression of the piece, like walking in a winding road in a forest and sometimes stopping suddenly and looking around.
Prelude I, III and IV are from a series of experimental pieces by Pocket Penguin, exploring sound material and combination of our instrument. We will describe more details of the series 'Prelude' later in our blog. You can have a glimpse of our rehearsal on Facebook, and also listen to Prelude I on Soundcloud.
“Çok Güzeller” was a piece Ryusuke has just made last week in a demand of rhythmic and “happy” repertoire of Pocket Penguin. The title is Turkish, meaning “very beautiful” in third person plural form. We wondered if someone noticed the Bach motif, a succession of notes, Bb A C B natural, used at somewhere in the piece. Our programme of this time actually began and ended with "Bach".
12 Feb 2013
Hammond 44
We got really excited with Ayumi's new equipment—Hammond 44 by Suzuki—which is one of the most pricey and presumably the best quality melodica. We tried playing a little today. Pitch is very correct, tone is nicely soft, key noise is less than others in initial condition. It has got built-in mic and 44 keys (the previous one was 37 keys), which will give us more possibilities in arranging/composing. Can't wait for using it at next concert.!
(In duet with 37 keys melodica which we have been using)
(Melodica which Ayumi has been using, chronologically ordered from the left to right)
16 Jan 2013
Spain by Chick Corea, on Melodica & Guitar
Pocket Penguin played "Spain" by Chick Corea, which is one of the most frequently played repertoire from the modern jazz standard. The pictures in this video were provided by an Argentinian artist, Lili Mariel Sciarrotta. She is currently based in the U.S. and being active as not only painter, but also as poet, singer, and Spanish teacher.
Here is additional information about the painter: Mariel describes her painting style as a combination of expressionism, modernism, and abstract. She believes art is the true expression of the soul, the feelings and emotions that connects all beings. If you want to see more of her art, visit her site at: lmsciarrotta.blogspot.com/, or like her Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/lmsciarrotta (updated on 20th Jan 2013)
Melodica: Ayumi Toyama
Guitar: Ryusuke Koarashi
Here is additional information about the painter: Mariel describes her painting style as a combination of expressionism, modernism, and abstract. She believes art is the true expression of the soul, the feelings and emotions that connects all beings. If you want to see more of her art, visit her site at: lmsciarrotta.blogspot.com/, or like her Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/lmsciarrotta (updated on 20th Jan 2013)
Melodica: Ayumi Toyama
Guitar: Ryusuke Koarashi
30 Dec 2012
After the concerts in Nagoya, Japan
Pocket Penguin has finished two concerts at Munetsugu Hall and at Sarmale on 18th of December. We would like to say many thanks to all of you who came to these events and also who supported us.!
The programmes:
Lunch time concert (day-time)
＊Bulgarian Folk Dance - Kopanitsa
＊Musa Mirzoev - 6 pieces on material of Azerbaijan Folklore
1. Lyrical piece
2. First Dance
3. Second Dance
＊Niyazi Hajibeyov - Music fragments from the film “Almas”
＊Michio Miyagi- Haru no Umi
＊Bartok Bela - Romanian Christmas Carols Series 1
＊Christmas Carol - The First Noel
＊Ennio & A. Morricone: Fragments from the Film “Nuovo Cinema Paradiso”
＊Ryusuke Koarashi - A Bird Flying over Mountains
Encore: Handel- Ombra Mal Fu
The Live show (evening-time)
Part 1:
＊Bulgarian Folk Dance - Kopanitsa
＊Hideyuki Fujiwara (sung by Sachiko Nishida) - Akashia no Ame ga yamutoki
＊Musa Mirzoev - 6 pieces on material of Azerbaijan Folklore
1. Lyrical piece
2. First Dance
3. Second Dance
＊Michio Miyagi- Haru no Umi
Part 2:
＊Tadashi Manjome (sung by Hibari Misora) - Kanashiki Kuchibue
＊Christmas Carol - The First Noel
＊Bartok Bela - Romanian Christmas Carols Series 1
＊Ryusuke Koarashi: Ikoku no oka (Foreign Hill)
＊Ennio & A. Morricone: Fragments from the Film “Nuovo Cinema Paradiso”
＊Marguerite Monnot: Hymne à l'amour
Encore: Ryusuke Koarashi - A Bird Flying over Mountains
Ayumi Toyama: Melodica
Ryusuke Koarashi: Guitar
2 Dec 2012
Kitchen Party (Christmas Party)
Kitchen Party (Christmas Party) has finished.
Programme:
Ennio & A. Morricone: Fragments from the Film "Nuovo Cinema Paradiso"
B. Bartok: Romanian Christmas Carol
Ryusuke Koarashi: Ikoku no oka (Foreign Hill)
Christmas Carol: The First Noel
Melodica: Ayumi Toyama
Guitar: Ryusuke Koarashi
Fragments from the Film "Nuovo Cinema Paradiso" is an arrangement of pieces from the famous Italian film "new cinema paradise" in English. Ryusuke first arranged for solo guitar many years ago, and this time rearranged it for melodica and guitar. All the film music might be strongly attributed to a particular situation in the film, but such film music can often be enjoyed separately, giving alternative meaning and context outside the film. The pieces in the arrangement was not just ordered with following the story of the film, but was re-edited to give a different meaning as a whole. (originally it was made it for a wedding party of Ryusuke's friend). Romanian Christmas Carol is originally a piano piece by Bartok, chosen and "edited" from Christmas songs in Romania.Those songs are sung during Christmas time, but according to Bartok, many of those have the origin in ancient religion before the Christianity raised. Foreign Hill was composed in many years ago, and was even forgotten until now "rediscovering". Now it is renewed for melodica and guitar, and will be performed for next concert again.
The concept of Kitchen Party is to enjoy listening music with eating and drinking. So everyone brings his/her own food and drink to share with each other. We have enjoyed various food from many different countries, but this time, surprisingly we encountered our favourite food, SUSHI!! Many thanks to N-san who brought it! and hope to see "them" again!
Programme:
Ennio & A. Morricone: Fragments from the Film "Nuovo Cinema Paradiso"
B. Bartok: Romanian Christmas Carol
Ryusuke Koarashi: Ikoku no oka (Foreign Hill)
Christmas Carol: The First Noel
Melodica: Ayumi Toyama
Guitar: Ryusuke Koarashi
Fragments from the Film "Nuovo Cinema Paradiso" is an arrangement of pieces from the famous Italian film "new cinema paradise" in English. Ryusuke first arranged for solo guitar many years ago, and this time rearranged it for melodica and guitar. All the film music might be strongly attributed to a particular situation in the film, but such film music can often be enjoyed separately, giving alternative meaning and context outside the film. The pieces in the arrangement was not just ordered with following the story of the film, but was re-edited to give a different meaning as a whole. (originally it was made it for a wedding party of Ryusuke's friend). Romanian Christmas Carol is originally a piano piece by Bartok, chosen and "edited" from Christmas songs in Romania.Those songs are sung during Christmas time, but according to Bartok, many of those have the origin in ancient religion before the Christianity raised. Foreign Hill was composed in many years ago, and was even forgotten until now "rediscovering". Now it is renewed for melodica and guitar, and will be performed for next concert again.
The concept of Kitchen Party is to enjoy listening music with eating and drinking. So everyone brings his/her own food and drink to share with each other. We have enjoyed various food from many different countries, but this time, surprisingly we encountered our favourite food, SUSHI!! Many thanks to N-san who brought it! and hope to see "them" again!
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