FI-FU
In 2023 we were asked to develop an exchange program between Saga prefecture and the Netherlands with a focus on music. Rather than approaching it as many have done in the past (organising a jazz concert for example), we decided to put a focus on reinvigorating Japanese folk music by having a Netherlands based contemporary composer reinterpret a classic, almost forgotten, folk song. And have a video artist make a new work based on the composition.
We experimented with the format of the artist in residency in terms of length of stay in Japan. The NL-based makers were preparing and communicating with the Japanese musicians for a few weeks. but their stay in Saga was limited to 10 days.
This work was produced within the context of "Land Memory and Folk Song" — a cultural initiative by Saga Prefectural Government and produced by Epigram and Studio The Future. The goal of the initiative is to revitalize the Saga by rediscovering and reaffirming the cultural and historical attractions of Saga Prefecture through the Dutch perspective, which has historical exchange with Saga Prefecture.
For this project, a group of artists and makers, led by Netherlands based artists, researched folk songs from Saga Prefecture. The artists stayed in the prefecture for a certain period of time and worked with artists associated with Saga Prefecture and workshop participants. Together they create musical and visual works that revive folk songs in a new form for the modern age.
The theme of this year's folk song is "Kyaatsuguro," a traditional folk song from the Shiota-cho area of Ureshino. ”Kyatsuguro" is Kyushu dialect for a wild bird called "Kaituburi.” There is also folk art of the same name that originated in the Kishima mountain area of Saga Prefecture.
The two artists in residence from the Netherlands were Lavinia Xausa, a filmmaker, and Jasmine Karimova, a musician and performer, who created the music for the piece. Hougaku Sannin-musume were in charge of the performance.
Lavinia Xausa directed the documentary film that includes a performance of "Kyaatsuguro" arranged by Jasmine Karimova in the nature of Ureshino, interviews with Ureshino residents about their childhood memories of singing children's songs, and a workshop on the theme of "Kyaatsuguro".
Inspired by their surroundings and from local residents, the artists added and arranged lyrical and philosophical, original and personal lyrics, and visualized them using documentary techniques. By doing so, the project aims to convey a universal message to everyone, and at the same time, to pass on Saga's almost forgotten folk songs to future generations and to the world.
Credit:
Film Director: Lavinia Xausa
Composer: Jasmine Karimova
Starring: Hougaku Sannin-musume (Kanako Kitahara, Koju Takahashi, Akari Nagaike), Jasmine Karimova
Cinematographer: Issey Hori (XIV STUDIO)
Production Manager: Miyuki Nakamura (XIV STUDIO)
Sound Engineer: Shinya Kiyokawa
Catalyst: Takao Ito
Recording Engineer: Mikihiko Ishibashi (Heacon Labo), Yuki Katsuki (Heacon Labo)
Producer: Yuki Tamai (epigram inc.) + Vincent Schipper, Klara van Duijkeren (Studio The Future)
Organized by Saga Prefectural Government
At the end of March 2023 we released a trailer and rough version. In December 2023 the final version was finished.