2/16/2014 First Visit 1987 From Irish-American Mezzo to ‘ Chu Tian Scholar ’ • Tour of Beijing, Chang Sha, Guang Zhou with Seoirse Bodley Lecture-Recital • Programmes of Irish Melodies and A GIRL with text by Brendan Kennelly Hugh Lane Gallery, Dublin • Understanding of Republic of Ireland and In celebration of Chinese New Year Northern Ireland Saturday, 1 February 2014 • Warm welcome but we were separated from the Prof. Dr. Aylish E. Kerrigan, Mezzosoprano Chinese Dearbhla Collins, Piano 1
2/16/2014 Cultural Exchange Project Second Visit - Wuhan 1992 1993 • Group of young musicians and an entourage of culturally • Tour with Prof. George Burden, interested supporters and local politicians went to Ergonomics and Industrial Design Wuhan – Concerts at the Wuhan Conservatory and various schools • Concerts of Lieder from the time of the Industrial Revolution • Group of Chinese musicians (both classical and traditional) and accompanying businessman (sponsor), • Lectures on the Industrial Revolution President of the Wuhan Conservatory of Music and Wuhan political representatives came to Germany • Lieder by Mahler and Brahms – Concerts in Stuttgart, Karlsruhe and Sindelfingen • Accompanists worked in freezing rooms • Resulting invitation to me to come to Wuhan and teach with candles due to electricity shortages German Lieder at the Conservatory • Wanted to leave out difficult notes! – promise of support disappeared, WCM stepped in 2
2/16/2014 What is it about Wuhan? 1994 • Fiery, passionate people with hearts of gold and desire to learn – Teaching German Lieder and Art Songs to Chinese students – Singers at the Conservatory knew Western Opera – No knowledge amongst singers of Wolf, Mahler, Brahms, R. Strauss • They knew a few very melodic Schubert songs • Cultural Revolution had taken its toll 3
2/16/2014 Food and Friends and Work • Nothing takes place without food • Food is this side of heaven • Great resilience – rats – don ’ t look! • Friends during first visit have remained close now for 20 yrs. 4
2/16/2014 Lectures and Vocal Classes • Diction a huge issue • Desire to learn Lieder due to international competitions • Long struggle to get recognition for the pianist • Accompanist Class is now established in WCM • Lectures on various styles of singing and composers now standard 5
2/16/2014 Irish Women Composers Concerts become established Ina Boyle, Rhoda Coghill, Elaine Agnew, • German Lieder Anne-Marie O ’ Farrell – Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Women Romantic Composers Mahler, Richard Strauss, Wagner, Dvorjak Clara Schumann, Josephine Lang, • Irish Contemporary Music Alma Mahler – Seoirse Bodley • 2 nd Viennese School • A Girl (3x), Carta Irlandaise, A Passionate Love, Schoenberg (2002), Berg Fraw Musica, After Great Pain, The Naked Flame, Remember Me, Canal Bank Walk, various made history in Chinese musical literature arrangements – John Buckley, Aloys Fleischmann Contemporary American Works – Jim Wilson Charles Ives, George Crumb, John Cage, Berio, Henry Cowell, Samuel Barber – Frederick May 6
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2/16/2014 Establishment of German Lieder Competition • Encourage young singers to learn German Lieder • Cooperation from the German Embassy • Funds for a Foundation • Incorporation of contemporary music • 1998 11
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2/16/2014 Establishment of Irish Music Library, 2007 • Help from Foreign Affairs Department • Help from SMI, Culture Ireland, Northern Arts Council • Support from Irish Embassy in Beijing • Irish Library of contemporary music and traditional – scores, CD ’ s, DVD ’ s – Declan Kelleher, Ambassador – Dearbhla Collins, Pianist – First visit of an Irish Ambassador to a conservatory in central China 13
2/16/2014 Certificates of Appreciation • Lieder Donations to the library • Contemporary music donations to the library • Irish scores, CD ’ s, DVD ’ s • Student concerts • ‘ Chu Tian Scholar ’ from Chinese government • 20 years of work in Wuhan 14
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China Meets Ireland 26 May – 1 June 2014 • Six talented musicians – Traditional Musicians – Er Hu, Gu Zheng, Bamboo Flute – Classical – Bass-Baritone, Pianist, Composer • Concerts together with Irish Musicians – St. Ann ’ s, St. Patricks Cathedral, Birr Castle • Workshops – RIAM and DIT
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