16–23 August – Afropean polyphony – Anita DAULNE (Congo/Belgium) and Fränki B. FRANK (Germany)

AFROPEAN POLYPHONY SUMMER WORKSHOP

with ANITA DAULNE Congo/Belgium (vocal class)

and FRÄNKI B. FRANK Germany (rhythm exercises)

August 16th - 23rd 2014, Slavonice

Anita Mahdia Daulne returns to the Czech Republic after her Voicescape-organized workshops in the previous years were 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 Congo, 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.

For more information about Anita Daulne click HERE.

RHYTHM EXERCISES WITH FRÄNKI B. FRANK

As a complementary activity Fränki B. Frank will offer rhythm exercises. About his work he says: "We play mainly on the djembe and bass drums (dundun). What we play has its origin in West Africa, is usually associated with singing and movement / dance, and stories about how the music is used in West Africa. Very important - as always - our access to the rhythms, the way of learning, of understanding and dealing with yourself, and the other people in the musical process. Bodypercussion we use to arrive, to warm up, and also to explore and deepen the rhythmic structures. If then we still have some time, I'll really like excursions into the "Concepts" and "ImPuls" that help us to discover how we do things, why we do things the way we do it, and what we do with this knowledge."

For further information about Fränki click HERE.

The participants are expected to arrive at Slavonice on August 16th. In the evening there will be a meeting with a screening of a documentary film about the Zap mama group. The lessons starts in the morning of Sunday 16th and totals six teaching days. The classes will take place in a room ocated on the Renaissance town square. Every day, the participants will have 4 and a houlf hours of singing and 1 and a half hours. of rythm exercises. The workshop will be ended by a public performance in one of the picturesque locations of Slavonice on Saturday 23rd and concluded by a group breakfast in the morning of Saturday 23rd. The lessons will be given in English and interpreted to Czech.

The price of the workshop is 6550 CZK and includes the classes and a daily common rich breakfast in a form of a buffet. 

If requested, we can book for you accommodation in the clean but simple Secesní dům pensioner (see pictures HERE ) in 2, 3 and 4-bed rooms. 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 6550 CZK . There is a number of other hotels and pensions 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.

Important notice: we can ensure the accomodation in the Secesní dům just for participants who send the application form till 30th May. Later it is available by demand. Slavonice is an old, small town, one of the few in the Czech Republic to be preserved in its Renaissance appearance.

Click HERE to download the applicaton.