AFROPEAN POLYPHONY SUMMER WORKSHOP

 

ANITA MAHDIA DAULNE (vocal class)

MILOŠ VACÍK (rhythm exercises)

 

Slavonice, August 15 - 22

Anita Mahdia Daulne returns to the Czech Republic after her Voicescape-organized workshops in 2007 and 2008 which were ere was a great experience to its participants.

SINGING AFRICAN POLYPHONY

 

In the Lingala language, "Mayaka" means "pearl necklace". Each participants‛ voice will become a pearl in a necklace contributing its unique significance to a whole in which the voices intertwine and unite. A play of voices, sounds, hisses, whistling and swinging rhythms will create a bridge connecting the African musical feeling based on everyday life in nature and the urban experience of Europeans. The lecturer who has labeled this kind of search "Afropean music" will offer the participants a possibility to discover their own, perhaps surprising, means of vocal expression and to experience joyful, energetic and emotional music in which everybody is both a soloist and a part of a chorus of many voices. The workshop is open to all who wish, need and have the courage to sing regardless of their experience.

Born in Kongo, Anita Mahdia Daulne is a founding member of the world-renowned vocal ensemble Zap Mama. For many years, she has studied African musical traditions, especially Pygmy, Budu, Zulu and other tribes' singing. She strives to bring the African heritage to the Western world.

More information about Anita Mahdia Daulne can be found in the LECTURERS section.

RHYTHM EXERCISES

As a complementary activity,a top Czech percussionist, Miloš Vacík, will offer rhythm exercises.

 

THE WORKSHOP

The participants are expected to arrive at Slavonice on August 15th. The workshop starts in the morning of August 16 and totals six teaching days. The classes will take place at the local music school located on the Renaissance town square. Every day, the participants will have 5 hours of singing and 2 hours of rhythm exercises, one afternoon can be reserved, if participants decide so,  for relaxation with the possibility of trips or swimming. The workshop will be consummated by a public performance in one of the picturesque locations of Slavonice on Friday 21st and concluded by a group breakfast in the morning of Saturday 22nd. The lessons will be given in English and interpreted to Czech.

The price of the workshop is 7350 Kč and includes the classes, daily breakfast and accommodation in the clean but simple Secesní dům  pensioner (see pictures HERE ) in 2, 3 and 4-bed rooms. The daily breakfast will take the form of a buffet suited as much as possible to the requests of the participants as stated on the registration forms. The price of the accommodation alone is 1400Kč in total or 200Kč per night. Those wishing to stay elsewhere can reserve their accomodation on their own and only pay the workshop+breakfast  fee of 5950Kč. There is a number of other hotels and pensioners in Slavonice and also a camping site few miles from the town. More information is available at the town web site  www.slavonice-mesto.cz.

 

Slavonice is an old, small town, one of the few in the Czech Republic to be preserved in its Renaissance appearance.

The registration form for the Slavonice workshop can be downloaded  HERE.

 

 

Video from the 2008 Slavonice workshop: