ED2012 Music ED2012 Three To See ED2012 Week0 Edition

Three To See 2012: Traditional and world music

By | Published on Friday 27 July 2012

Gagaku

ThreeWeeks Co-Editor Caro Moses recommends three traditional and world music acts from this year’s Edinburgh Festival.

Gagaku: Imperial Court Music and Dance of Japan (pictured)
According to the EIF, Gagaku is the world’s oldest living orchestral tradition, dating back to fifth century Japan, in which elegant and serene harmonies are interpreted by dancers using stylised movement. This is a rare chance to see this, apparently, as these performances by the Musicians of The Imperial Household Agency are normally reserved for private ceremonies of the Japanese imperial family.
Gagaku – Imperial Court Music and Dance of Japan, Festival Theatre, 22 Aug, 7.30pm, eifpp50. www.eif.co.uk

Elsa Jean McTaggart
This Scottish singer-songwriter proved a big hit with our ThreeWeeks reviewer last year, who found her funny and chatty, enjoying the anecdotes offered between the songs, and her charming vocals and excellent command of the fiddle. This year she promises high spirited songs, jigs, reels, ballads and instrumentals to bring a tear to the eye.
Elsa Jean McTaggart, SpaceCabaret @ 54, 3-25 Aug, 3.30pm, fpp210. www.mctaggart.info

Bhundu Boy Rise Kagona
Rise Kagona came to prominence with the Bhundu Boys, the Zimbabwean band which, you may remember (if you’re old, like me), attracted the attention of the likes of John Peel and Andy Kershaw back in the late eighties. Rise, who created the group’s sound by transferring traditional jiti rhythms to guitar, performs two dates with his new jit jive band.
Bhundu Boy Rise Kagona, The Jazz Bar, 12 & 16 Aug, fpp205. www.bhunduboy.co.uk



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