"There are many varieties of rhythms in this beiguan music that are similar to the Buddhist ritual music of where we're from," Kuvezin said, finding a common point of reference that was exploited to surprising effect at the press call earlier in the week, despite a virtual lack of practice beforehand.
Facing the same challenge as Yat-Kha will be Lucas Niggli, a percussionist from Switzerland best known for his contemporary jazz experimentations that often veer into rock and even heavy metal.
Some of the other musicians set to perform include Luantan Ascent (亂彈), the solo project of A-hsiang (阿翔), the singer from the Taiwanese rock band Luantan and traditional Chinese music experimentalist Wu Wei (吳巍), who's now based in Berlin.
Wu is a master of the sheng, a mouth organ with a near 4,000 year history and that can be seen in the Mogao cave paintings at Dunhuang. The instrument is now a common feature of traditional Chinese orchestras and Wu has gained acclaim for his fusing of jazz and other Western musical styles.
Being a beiguan festival, there will also of course be beiguan performances by some of Taiwan's foremost traditional music groups, notably the Sijhih City Chinese Music Society, Luminous World Hand Puppet Theater (明世界掌中劇團), The Gleams (林中光樂團) and opera singer Tang Mei Yun (唐美雲). Each of the bands specializes in different styles of traditional Taiwanese music, which all find some relation to beiguan.
The music begins tonight at Ximending's Red House Theater, with a party featuring DJ Monbaza and some of the festival's musicians, who will perform live to the DJ's music. The more traditional shows will take place tomorrow and Sunday at the outdoor theater of Da-An Forest Park.
What: Old Styles, New Grooves
When: Tonight, tomorrow and Sunday
Where: Red House Theater, 10 Chengdu Rd, Taipei (台北市成都路10號); Da-An Forest Park
Admission to all events is free
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