Minami Circle members welcomed the New Year with a music concert on 23rd January in YCAC. Members listened to musicians play, instruments from around the world. The Emcee for the event was Mrs. Masae Coomber.

The performance started by a koto performance by Tanaka Koichiro and Fujii Kyoko. Mr. Tanaka is a professional player and has performed in Japan and abroad. We were indeed fortunate to have him and Ms. Fujii with us. Marianna Lykhina and Evgeny Lykhin from Russia played the piano. They have been playing the piano for many years and have majored in music. Their love for the piano was evident in the passion with which they played for us.

The concert also had some rare instruments; zither and hackbrett. Japanese artists Yoshino Fusako and Watanabe Takako played the zither along with Takahashi Chie on the hackbrett. The origin of these instruments is in Austria and Southern Germany and they are popular in European folk music, so our performers were dressed in German folk dresses. After the performance, these artists also explained about their instruments and dress.

Finally, the choir performance by the Minami circle chorus group was the cherry on the cake. All the members, eager for spring and cherry blossoms on a cold wintery morning, happily joined the chorus group in singing the ever melodious “sakura sakura”.

From the eastern melodies of koto and sakura to the western tunes of piano, zither and hackbrett, the concert offered an unusual blend of performances. The members who attended the concert were indeed very lucky.
The meeting wrapped up with light lunch and socialising.

Thank you to all Minami Circle Members who made this event successful.

Report: Anju.B pictures: A.Motegi

Information

Music is loved all over the world. Each nation has its own musical instruments, tunes,melodies, and lyrics. Minami Circle has many members who have great abilities in music. So, we are planning to have a concert where some of our members will play for us.

Mr.Koichiro Tanaka, a Koto player from Hokkaido,is flying over to Yokohama to perform for us. Mrs.Fujii who lives in Yokohama, is a Koto teacher for Mrs.Kawanobe (Minami Circle member).Mr. Tanaka and Mrs.Fujii are trying to establish new wave of modern Koto music.

Mrs. Marianna Lykhina and her husband ,both of whom majored music in their home country of Russia are great pianists. They will play the piano together ,with four-hands.

Mrs. Watanabe and her teachers will play the zither and hackbrett , uncommon instruments in Japan. These are folk instruments that were originally born in Southern Germany.

Last but not least our Chorus Group will sing Oshougatsu song for us. Let's sing happy Japanese New year song together !


Come and enjoy the music from different countries, share a light meal and good company as we cerebrate the beginning of the New Year.

Time:Reception 9:30==10:00
Performance 10:00==12:30

Place:YC&AC Restaurant 1F
Fee: Members 1,600 yen (including lunch), 800 yen (without lunch) Non-members 2,300 yen (including lunch), 1,500 yen(without lunch)

Number limit: 70 persons

Reservations:From Nov.9th to Jan.18th

Contact:Ms.Masae Coomber or Ms.Rieko Aburatani

Your reservation is made on receiving your money. No refunds after Jan. 18.

Please be sure to park at the guest parking.

Minami Circle

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