April 3, 2019 (Portland, OR): In a special collaboration with Portland Taiko, Fear No Music looks beyond borders with curiosity and respect, highlighting Japan’s outsized influence on Western culture, and thus the diverse fabric of our own neighborhoods.

Japanarama: The Ongoing Influence of Japanese Culture
Monday, May 6 at 7:30pm
The Old Church Concert Hall in Downtown Portland

Tickets available at fearnomusic.org

With this dynamic collaboration, Fear No Music accentuates quintessential Japanese concepts such as “ma” (the space between), “wabi sabi” (the beauty of imperfection), “shibui” (simplicity or minimalism),  and “ikigai” (a reason for being), which serve to contextualize Japanese culture and showcase its unique beauty. Japanese design and aesthetics are so prevalent in modern American society that many people are unaware of their overseas origins. However, the rich history that shaped their existence provides deeper insight and appreciation for the invaluable ways in which we reappropriate foreign culture as our own.

This concert program includes:

• Stream for solo percussion, by Peruvian interdisciplinary composer, performer and improviser, Pauchi Sasaki

• My Sleeve Is Wet With Tears for solo clarinet, by Barbara White

• Netsuke: Six Miniatures for violin and piano, by Stephen Hartke (inspired by exquisite Japanese wood carvings on display at the LA County Museum of Art)

• Sonata from the Other Shore for solo piano, by Wang Jie: “a cross-cultural handshake between current and former rival countries” Japan and China, and based on the Japanese folk song “Tanchame-Bushi”

• Pacific Voices for taiko and violin, by Zachary Semke and Ann Ishimaru

• Dango Jiro for flute, violin, cello, and taiko ensemble, by Kenji Bunch *

• Winds of Change/Forest Festival for taiko and viola, by Kenny Endo