Project

The Living Instrument

The Living Instrument preserves the history and culture of historical musical instruments for future generations, ensuring an ongoing tradition of these instruments.  The program will feature the composition of contemporary new music, performed on the historic instruments by specialist performers.  

In 2010, the Centenary of Canberra will present the pilot Living Instrument program.  To mark the 1300th anniversary of Nara, the theme for the Living Instrument 2010 is Japan.  The program will consist of:

Kojiki – Saturday 18th September 2010
Directed by Mary Finsterer, one of Australia’s most original composers, this unique performance will present stories from the Kojiki, the oldest book in Japan, on the main stage at the Canberra Nara Candle Festival.  Each story of creation and historical legend will be told in a unique way, through music, poetry and song, as an homage to Nara and a place and time in history that became a cornerstone to Japanese culture.  Full program and performer details will be available soon from www.events.act.gov.au.

INSIGHT Japanese Music Symposium – Thursday 23rd September 2010
The presentation of research by post–graduates from the ANU School of Music, with musical presentations by musicians practiced in the traditional Japanese music.  Further details coming soon.

Images:
Director Mary Finsterer (Photo by Dean Golja)
Shakuhachi player David Dixon

The Living Instrument's Kojiki is a Centenary of Canberra pilot project for the Canberra Nara Candle Festival, proudly presented by the ACT Government.  The Living Instrument is supported by the ANU School of Music, the National Folk Festival and ACT Special Events.