Frame drum masters to perform in Kaohsiung and Taipei

Frame drum masters to perform in Kaohsiung and Taipei

2023-06-08

The ancient instrument known as the frame drum will be in the spotlight this month at two performances by internationally renowned percussionists. Four frame drum masters from the U.S., Italy, Germany, and Israel will perform in Kaohsiung and Taipei. FTV reporter Stephany Yang gets us a preview.

Frame drum masters take the stage, performing "Elements." Each percussionist represents a different element: land, water, air, and fire.

A frame drum is a term for any drum with a drumhead that’s wider than it is deep. It’s one of the first musical instruments ever invented. Murat Coskun from Germany, Glen Velez from the U.S., Andrea Piccioni from Italy, and Zohar Izhak Fresco from Israel will perform in Taiwan on June 9 and June 11.

Glen Velez
Frame drummer
The frame drum goes back to the ancient Biblical lands of the Middle East. That is the earliest representations of the frame drums. There are pictures of women playing frame drums in groups and people playing the frame drum with with harps and with flutes.

Murat Coskun
Frame drummer
Everyone should imagine their own which was which element. We don’t want to say Andrea is the fire or whatever. It is up to you, the listener that they have their own fantasy.

Zohar Izhak Fresco
Frame drummer
The heartbeat and the musical beat is always with us. Was with us and will be with us. That is the meaning of "Chai Peimot.”

Andrea Piccioni
Frame drummer
In Italy, this instrument exists since 4,000. This is for example, made out of the olive tree. The language of music is really connecting everybody very easily.

In addition, the National Chinese Orchestra of Taiwan and Taiwanese frame drummer Huang Hsin-hui will perform a piece by Taiwanese composer Chang Yung-chin. It combines the styles of samba, Muqam, and traditional Peking opera.

Huang Hsin-hui
Organizer
We invited four frame drum masters from around the world. The National Chinese Orchestra helped them rewrite different jazz, modern, and traditional songs to showcase the fusion of frame drums and Chinese orchestra.

Chang Chia-yun
Conductor
Western music and Chinese music have different structures, so their sounds also achieve different effects.

"The Fabulous Frame Drum Masters" performances will be held at the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts on June 9 and Taiwan Traditional Theatre Center on June 11.

《登峰造擊》音樂會即將登場世界級手鼓大師齊聚演出

2023-06-08

《登峰造擊》音樂會邀請來自美國、義大利、德國和以色列的四位手鼓大師將在高雄和台北演出。一起來看看!

手鼓大師演出《元素》，分別代表土地、水、空氣、火、四種地球重要的元素。

手鼓是鼓面寬度大於深度的鼓，是最古老的樂器之一。手鼓大師包括來自德國Murat Coskun、美國的Glen Velez、義大利的Andrea Piccioni、以色列的Zohar Izhak Fresco將於6月9日、6月11日在台演出。

[[美國手鼓Glen Velez]]
"手鼓可以追溯到中東古老的聖經之地，那是手鼓的最早表現形式，有婦女成群打手鼓的圖片，還有以豎琴和長笛伴奏的畫面。"

[[德國手鼓大師Murat Coskun]]
"每個人都應該想像哪一個演奏者的手鼓屬於哪個元素，我們不想說Andrea代表火。這取決於聽眾，他們可有自己的想像。"

[[以色列手鼓大師Zohar Izhak Fresco]]
"心跳和音樂節拍始終與我們同在，曾經和我們同在，未來也和我們在一起。這就是“ Chai Peimo”的意思"

[[義大利手鼓大師Andrea Piccioni]]
"在義大利，這種樂器從4千年就存在了，例如，這是用橄欖樹製成的。音樂的語言真的很容易將每個人串連在一起。"

另外，還有台灣國樂團與本次節目策劃人黃馨慧演出由張永欽創作的《鼓今中外》，融合南美森巴、中亞木卡姆、與傳統京劇等多元風格。

[[策劃人黃馨慧]]
"這次就是邀請到四位全世界最厲害，手鼓界的天王。我們結合國樂團幫他們重新的編寫，就是有爵士風，有現代風，有傳統風的不同的曲目，來展現手鼓跟國樂團的結合。"

[[指揮張佳韻]]
"西樂器跟國樂器本身在構造上面本來就不同，所以所製造出來的音響效果也會不一樣。"

《登峰造擊》於6月9日與11日在高雄衛武營國家藝術文化中心音樂廳與台北台灣戲曲中心大表演廳演出。

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Visiting Tainan is AIT Chair Laura Rosenberger, accompanied by Vice President Lai Ching-te. As the former mayor of the city, Lai led Rosenberger on a tour. The AIT chair is visiting Taiwan for the second time in two months, amid speculation that the U.S. hopes to “screen” the presidential candidates.

The night before meeting Lai, Rosenberger sat with the KMT’s candidate Hou Yu-ih. The two met at New Taipei City Hall and took a train together to Pingxi, where they had dinner and released a sky lantern. On the lantern, Hou wrote a wish for more Taiwan-U.S. exchanges and a lasting friendship. Rosenberger wrote: A hearts T, U.S.-Taiwan exchange.” And with that, the only candidate left to see is Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People’s Party.

Ko Wen-je
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After I go back to Taiwan tonight, I’ll be spending two days in Kaohsiung. If she wants to meet, I think we’ll have to ask her to travel to Kaohsiung. All the matters to be discussed were already discussed when I met her in Washington last month. The U.S. Department of State and the National Security Council have been very clear that this upcoming election, they will remain neutral. They only hope that no matter who is elected, there are no surprises. I said there’d be no problem. At the time I assured her that Taiwan-U.S. relations would not change, no matter who the ruling party is.

Ko had visited the U.S. for 21 days in April. Sources indicate Lai may transit in the U.S. in August, and that Hou may visit in September. In the 2024 election, each candidate’s relationship with Washington is looming as a central issue.

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Here in an alley in Tokyo, Taiwan People’s Party Chair Ko Wen-je unveiled a plaque marking his party’s first overseas office.

Ko Wen-je
TPP chair
I am very thankful to all my passionate supporters here for establishing this preparatory office for my friendship group, and for expanding my overseas support network.

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On his last day in Japan, Ko Wen-je attended the founding ceremony of a preparatory office for his friendship group. It’s a significant event for the party, as it is the TPP’s first overseas headquarters.

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There will be Ko Wen-je friendship groups everywhere in the future, and support groups will bloom everywhere. This is just the start.

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Ko Wen-je
TPP chair
First we should resolve the problems of our fishermen. As for the controversial dispute, that can be dealt with gradually. It’s as simple as that. You’ve all been solving the problems of Su’ao fishermen for so many years now. And suddenly it all becomes a whole thing about national sovereignty. So what have you been doing all this time?

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Commuters head to the office for their nine-to-five. Earlier this year, a petition with more than 5,700 signatures called for Taiwan to become the first in Asia to have a three-day weekend. The labor ministry convened labor unions, business groups, academics, and several other ministries for a review of the proposal. All parties agreed that the idea was promising, but that Taiwan’s severe labor shortage meant it would be impossible to implement.

Member of public
It should be possible to get all your work done in four days. An extra day off shouldn’t make much of a difference. Other countries can do it and Taiwan should be able to as well.

Member of public
You have to work to have production. If Taiwan’s service industry were more dominant than other industries, then it would be doable.

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It’s not quite feasible. If workers had three days off, then nearby businesses wouldn’t need to open, and their operating costs would go up. If wages don’t go up to compensate for that, it would lead indirectly to inflation.

Huang Wei-chen
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A three-day weekend would affect people’s routines in many different domains of life.

Officials said a three-day weekend would force adjustments to school curriculums and vacation schedules. It would also raise the labor costs of medical facilities and affect supply chains and agricultural logistics. The Financial Supervisory Commission estimates that, with stock turnover averaging NT$200 billion a day, one fewer trading day a week would cause a NT$30 billion annual loss in transaction taxes.

Huang Wei-chen
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If there’s the opportunity to do so, employees and employers themselves can negotiate over scheduling – that’s a way to go about it. Do it on a case-by-case basis. At present, the Labor Standards Act has room for labor and employer to negotiate this.

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Coastlines, seascapes and the ocean floor. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the documentary “Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above.” The Chi Po-lin Foundation held a press conference on Thursday to announce a third installment to the series. Entertainer Mickey Huang is a spokesperson for the film.

Mickey Huang
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My greatest regret in life is not having had an in-depth interview with Director Chi. But I won’t let this regret weigh me down. I’ll take action to support all the events related to the film series.

Ten years ago, the original “Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above” hit the silver screen to widespread acclaim. Just a few years later, its director Chi Po-lin died in a helicopter crash during the filming, putting a sequel project on hold. To realize Chi’s dream and keep his spirit alive, the Chi Po-lin Foundation is collaborating with veteran film director Mai Chueh-ming to create a third film. The documentary will show the changes Taiwan underwent over the past decade, both due to direct human action and climate change. Mai says the new work will pay homage to the original film with shots of Yushan and Xueshan.

Mai Chueh-ming
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It starts from Yushan, where a group of Bunun children are. Then we go to the second-tallest peak, Xueshan, with a group of Atayal children singing on top of the mountain.

Wan Kuan-li
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I’m believe that there are many other Chi Po-lins in Taiwan who can carry on his mission, to continue moving forward and documenting the stories of Taiwan’s land.

The third documentary is slated for release next year. Besides taking audiences on a tour of Taiwan’s beauty, it will shed light on threats such as deforestation and marine waste. Shot from high in the sky, the film hopes to showcase Taiwan, while prompting reflection on environmental issues.

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Oil painter Kung Ming-ying walks among the students offering support.

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Kung Ming-ying
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Painting takes patience. It develops their maturity and their patience. They are more willing to gradually study what you teach.

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They tell their own stories and share them. So, they grow a lot, and make great progress, in terms of their physical coordination, their cognitive skills and their capacity for self-expression.

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