GLOBAL SESSIONS | Benedetti Foundation

GLOBAL VIOLIN SESSIONS : A CULTURAL EXCHANGE PART TWO

Between 18 April - 8 May

What happens if you take one tune and send it around the world?

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The Sessions

Schedule

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Musicians

Featuring Guest Artists including Aly Bain, Phil Cunningham, Jenna Reid, The Ayoub Sisters, Timothy Chooi and Laure Chan, this Virtual Session is a tale of discovery, globalism and cultural exchange as we continue our trip around the world through the eyes of the violin.

Technique, sound, rhythm and melody will be taught and explored. But these sessions have a deeper story to tell. We can embrace our similarities whilst celebrating our differences. We are capable of holding duality in our minds and hearts, and these sessions will explore this.

On our musical journey we will gain insight into the musical worlds of different traditions, told by the violin and led by a line-up of great musicians.

THE SESSIONS

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This year’s tune, written by accordionist Phil Cunningham, will be given its first outing played by Nicola Benedetti. It will then be passed round the musicians. Each violinist along with colleagues will make it their own. They will change rhythms, twist notes, add instrumentation and colours and effects – and along the way, they will teach us how they do it.

Participants can then choose as many versions of the tune as they wish to record and send us their playing. These videos will be weaved together to create a final performance.

WHO IS IT FOR?

All are welcome. There are two participatory routes:

Saturday: Explore & Discover – Open to All

In these Sessions, we will meet the artists, learn more about the musical traditions and cultures, explore traditional instruments, take part in Q&As and enjoy performance sessions.

Sunday: Prepare & Perform – For Violinists

Tutorial sessions on the new arrangements led by the Guest Artists and Foundation’s Tutors, Rachel Cooper, Alex Laing and Andrea Gajic.

SCHEDULE

The Sessions take place between 18 April – 8 May, across three weekends. Participants can select which weekends they wish to take part in, and recordings will be made available for registered participants.

Each week, we visit a different tradition:

Week 1: 23 and 24 April

Scotland with Aly Bain, Phil Cunningham and Jenna Reid

Week 2: 30 April & 1 May

Egypt with The Ayoub Sisters and friends

Week 3: 2 + 7 and 8 May

East meets West with Timothy Chooi (2 May), Laure Chan and friends

A weekly tutorial will be released before the live weekend to support your learning of the new arrangement.

THE LIVE WEEKENDS

ALL TIMES IN UK / BST (GMT+1) TIME

SATURDAY – EXPLORE & DISCOVER

OPEN TO ALL

14:00-14:45 - Meet the Artists & Style and Technique Hub

15:00-15:45 - The Story of our Traditions

16:15-17:00 - Q&A and Performance Session

SUNDAY – PREPARE & PERFORM

VIOLINISTS (Young People & Adults)

14:00-14:45 - Beginner Violinists

15:15-16:00 - Intermediate Violinists

16:30-17:15 - Advanced Violinists

17:30-18:15 - Students and Advanced Adult Violinists

All live sessions for young people take place on Zoom.

Beginner & Intermediate Level Adults will join via Live Stream.

Advanced Adults/Students will join via Zoom.

You may join more than one level of session.

THE FINAL PERFORMANCE

We will produce a series of compositions based on these folk traditions. The final film will bring these tunes together and take you on a visual and aural journey around these cultures as we share the next part of the Global Violin’s story.

All registered participants will be able to send in videos to be included in the final film.

The final performance will be premiered on YouTube and Facebook on Sunday 22 May.

HOW TO JOIN IN

The Sessions are open to everyone, any level, any age and from anywhere in the world.

All Sessions will be available to watch on catch up for those in different time zones and anyone unable to join live.

The Sessions will be delivered in English.

There is a registration fee of £25 to cover the costs of delivering the sessions. Full bursaries are available to all – please tick the box on the registration form.

Additional Donations: Music is no answer to the horrendous situation in Ukraine, but we will do what we can to raise money for the millions who are displaced and in need. During these Sessions, we would invite anyone who would like to make an additional donation, to consider donating to the Disasters Emergency Committee to support those who have been affected by the current conflicts in our world.

To ensure you have the information ahead of the first live weekend on 23-24 April, please register by the end of the day on 21 April. Registration will remain open throughout and you may join in at any time.