World music has come to Taiwan in a big way, with Taiwan Arts International Association's (TAIA,
While both the TAIA and Tree Music events featured some Asian artists, it was acts from Europe that tended to dominate. During a press conference for the second TAIA World Music Festival last year, Serina Chen (
The Asian Music Festival is the first major music event hosted by Fnac, whose Literature Cafe and related activities have already gained a strong following. Since it was established in Taipei, Fnac has always had an extensive World Music section, an extension of its commitment to world music in its French stores. For the event, Fnac has produced a catalogue of over 80 world music CDs from its total collection. In order to meet the needs of the current event, it has also increased its selection, especially with music from Okinawa, which will feature in the opening concert tomorrow.
PHOTO: FNAC
According to Ho Ying-yi (
A good example of this is one group from Japan -- Okuma Wa Taru and Sakamoto Hiromichi, who play a hybrid of Japanese temple music and American blues which has proved very popular at world music events around the world. The An-Chang Project plays the folk music of Okinawa, drawing on influences as diverse as Japan, the US and the South Pacific. The use of Japanese instruments such as the samshin and raw chanting vocals give the music an eerie power, while occasionally breaking into the easier rhythm of Pacific island culture.
Three groups from Taiwan, representing very different musical traditions will also perform. The best known of these is Labor Exchange (
With only five groups spread over four concerts, the Fnac Asian Music Festival is a rather small affair, especially as everyone will be crammed into the small Fnac coffee shop. To beef up the lineup, screenings of five other concerts will be held through the month.
A photo exhibition and workshops for those who want to get a deeper understanding of various styles of folk music are also part of the festival. Best of all, CDs in Fnac's World Music collection will be sold at a 20 percent discount to Fnac cardholders for the month of June.
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