The event

Irish music is both dance and tradition: the common repertoire brings people together, even strangers, to dance and sing. Irish music is fluid, traditionally learned by ear, and often varies from musician to musician.

In this workshop, led by Robert Hickman, you will learn how to adapt Irish music to the ocarina, understand the different types of melodies (Polkas, Jigs, Hornpipes and Reels) and learn how to embellish them with various finger articulations and ornaments as taught in the tradition.

The ocarina is an unusual instrument, but is ideal for Irish music as it offers musical nuances that are not easily achievable on the tin whistle or simple flute.

This is a fully participatory workshop: teaching will be mainly by ear, with sheet music available to give the ‘bones’ of the music. The pieces will be adapted to a single by Alto C ocarina.
The lab will be conducted in English and will last approximately two hours.

Robert Hickman

Robert Hickman began playing Irish songs and folk music on the ocarina in 2011. He adapted his style to the tin whistle technique, and has been performing regularly ever since.
He wrote the book “Serious Ocarina Player”.
As a maker, he has created instruments designed to meet the needs of Irish music, with a minimal breath curve, and a timbre and volume balanced across their range

In case of sold out, the workshop will be repeated on April 14.

The event

From China to Korea and the United States, the sound of the ocarina has captivated and inspired countless musicians and ensembles.

In this special evening at the Consortium Theater, we have the privilege of listening to some of the world’s finest artists, who have brought the profound poetry of the Budriese instrument to life with remarkable variety.

Their fascinating and unexpected performances are a testament to the ocarina’s enduring power to bridge worlds, cultures, and people.

Jingya LIu

Born in China and now based in the USA, Jingya Liu is one of the first Chinese ocarinists, performing since 2007. She has dedicated herself to promoting Chinese musical culture and has performed at numerous international events since 2010. For 12 years, she served as the Executive Director of the Chinese Ocarina Art Society. Currently, Ms. Liu is a board member of the Washington Chinese Traditional Orchestra and a prominent musical artist in the Washington, DC area.

Program:

1. Trails of the Angels original flute and piano composition by Yue Chen and Ke Ma
2. Fade Away created by Jay Chou
3. Variations on Merry Go Ground of Life compote by Joe Hisaishi

Korean Ocarina SEPTET Ensemble

Program:

1. Voices of Spring, Johann Strauss Ⅱ
2. Military Polonaise, in A-major, op.40-1, Chopin
3. The Whistler and his dog, Pryor
4. Soundtrack of “Pirate of Caribbean”
5. Trisch Tratsch Polka, Johann Strauss II

Steven Higbee

Steven Higbee is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in wind instruments. He has performed a wide variety of music, including classical, jazz, video game scores, and film music. Since 2018, he has collaborated with hundreds of musicians online, recording singles, albums, and even video game soundtracks.

Steven’s journey with the ocarina began in 2015, following an unexpected discovery on YouTube. Soon after, he founded Ocabanda, the first ocarina septet in the United States.

After performing with the group, Steven continued to refine his ocarina skills, mastering more complex pieces and expanding his ability to arrange and compose for the instrument. Through his project and performances, he aims to showcase the beauty of the ocarina’s sound and inspire others to take up the instrument.

Program:

1. Reset ~ Thank You from videogame “Okami”, composed by Ayaka Hirahara and arranged by Steven Higbee
2. A Distant Land, by Steven Higbee
3. Café 1930, by Astor Piazzolla

Korean ocarina orchestra

Program:

1. Spring in my hometown, traditional Korean song
2. The Four seasons “Spring”, arranged musics by Emiliano Bernagozzi
3. Isle of Capri, arranged by Emiliano Bernagozzi
4. Sarabande Handel
5. William Tell Overture, arranged musics by Emiliano Bernagozzi

The event

The original format of the revitalized Ocarina Festival: the Ocarina Marathon!

Eight groups from around the world will take turns performing in the beautiful “Sala Ottagonale” inside the Torri dell’Acqua in Budrio. Over four hours of captivating performances, where the ocarina narrates its journey all the way to the Land of the Rising Sun.

Admission is free, and you are welcome to come and go at any time. Performances begin at 10:30 AM and last approximately 30 minutes.

Schedule

FIRST ROUND
Chisato Nakahara e Asaka Shirai
Melos Bene Ocarina Quartet
Jubo Due (Wayne Hankin & Kate Barnes)
Daniel Schmid

Break at 5 P.M.

SECOND ROUND
Suono di Cielo Septet
Brian Blauch
Hye-eun Kim & Hye-jin Seo
Haruna Shiina & Ayako Yamada