Posts Tagged ‘music’

Volunteers needed!

Thursday, June 25th, 2009
SQR SAME camps 2009

SQR SAME camps 2009

DOWNLOAD PDF INFO in English and Chinese.

We need volunteers! With schools out for the summer the kids living in temporary villages in the earthquake area have two months free and not a lot to do, so Sichuan Quake Relief is currently setting up several fun-based activity camps for them.

The SQR SAME Camps will focus on the four areas of Sports, Art, Music and English-language learning.

Camps will be run in 5-day modules from Monday to Friday, commencing Monday June 29, and running till the end of August.

SQR SAME Camps 2009 - 中文

SQR SAME Camps 2009 - 中文

We are asking volunteers to commit to at least one full week of teaching over the summer, leaving Chengdu on the Sunday, staying in the village teaching from Monday to Friday, and returning to Chengdu on the Friday evening. We are looking to build mixed teams to run each camp, so people of all ages, Chinese and non-Chinese, most welcome. And while teaching experience and some Chinese language skills would be great, they are not necessary. We just need flexible, enthusiastic people who have a sense of humour and are able to live and work under difficult conditions.

Transport costs to and from the camp, (very basic) accommodation, and food will be provided by SQR. We are currently building teams for the first seven SAME Camps:

  1. June 28 – July 3
  2. July 5 – July 10
  3. July 12 – July 17
  4. July 19 – July 24
  5. July 26 – July 31
  6. August 2 – August 7
  7. August 9 – August 14

If you would like to volunteer for one or more of these camps, or if you would like additional information, email volunteer@sichuan-quake-relief.org or call (86) 136 7121 2235.

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Posted in Arts, Childcare, Civil society, Education, SQR, SQR Activities | 2 Comments »

Danwei.org feature on Afterquake video of ‘Sala’

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

Danwei.org article on the Afterquake track, ‘Sala’

From the Afterquake music project, the traditional Qiang minority song “Sala”. More about this video and Afterquake below.

One year after the May 2008 Sichuan Earthquake in China, the Afterquake music project has created music with quake survivors to raise money and awareness for the ongoing reconstruction.

This song is a traditional Qiang minority song called “Sala”, but all the kids in Wenchuan seem to know it whether they are Han, Qiang or from another ethnic group. They also all seem to know the dance. The kids called it a guo zhuang (锅庄) song which means that you dance around a fire while singing it.

The vocals are by the girl in the video named Luo Shuang (罗霜), a 14-year-old first year middle school student from Wenchuan County. She is Han ethnicity. Her mother appears at the end of the video, on the site where they are rebuilding their house, which was destroyed in the earthquake. The accompanying music was produced by Abigail Washburn and Dave Liang, of the Shanghai Restoration Project. The video was shot and edited by Luke Mines.

To hear more of the music, see pictures from the project and to learn more about how to support Sichuan Quake Relief visit afterquakemusic.com, or support SQR by getting the tracks on iTunes or Amazon.

Proceeds from the music help to provide much needed quake relief to the 5 million who lost homes in the earthquake through the work of Sichuan Quake Relief.

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Afterquake – the beginnings… SQR visit to Qipangou school with Abigail Washburn and Amanda Kowalski

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009

Buy an EP or Premium Charity Package

Listen to Dave and Abigail’s interview on NPR’s All Things Considered

At Qipangou in the north of Chengdu there is a former petroleum industry college which is now inhabited by students displaced from Wenchuan by the May 12th 2008 earthquake.  On 9th December 2008, Abigail Washburn visited schools to support and cheer up those affected by the quake.

With Abigail was her friend Amanda Kowalski, who demonstrated her dancing skills live on stage.  Abigail wowed the students just by speaking amazing Mandarin and then by her singing and banjo playing, and then led a singalong with the students, and then by the SQR volunteers, as well as asking one of the students to perform a folk song with her.  Abigail and Amanda made similar visits to several schools in the quake-hit areas.  Later, when chatting to Dave Liang of the Shanghai Restoration Project, she mentioned her work for quake victims, and they decided to create a collection of music using the voices of those in the quake zone, and sounds from the quake zone.  Amanda, a professional photographer, documented the creation of the EP, a generous proportion of proceeds from which will go to SQR.
On 12th May 2009 Afterquake will be released.

http://www.afterquakemusic.com

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Release of Afterquake EP

Monday, April 20th, 2009

12th May 2009 sees the release of the EP Afterquake.

The collaboration was inspired in 2008 through Abigail’s volunteer work for Sichuan Quake Relief where she performed in ‘relocation schools’ with kids from pre-school to high school — most of whom were relocated from mountain villages to schools in new locations far from their families.

The team included:

  • Abigail Washburn, singer/songwriter and banjo player extraordinaire
  • Dave Liang, the maestro behind the Shanghai Restoration Project
  • Amanda Kowalski, double-bass player and photographer who also documented the trip. Her photos feature in the Afterquake artwork and packaging.
  • Luke Mines, videographer (see the results when you watch the video.)

The project started only a month or so ago and is being completed at lightning speed. It was amazing to witness the creative team’s commitment and energy, and Chengdu Bookwormers were treated to a first listen to the material, presented by Abigail and Dave just a few weeks ago.

The EP Afterquake will be for sale on Amazon (physical copies with international shipping), and Hinote will be handling digital distribution throughout mainland China and Taiwan. Everywhere else in the world it will be available through the soon-to-be finished Afterquake website (physical copies) and digitally on i-Tunes. A generous portion of sales revenues will be donated to Sichuan Quake Relief.  The EP will also be on sale at the Chengdu Bookworm.

More about Afterquake and the people behind it:

The official Afterquake press release is as follows:

Abigail Washburn & The Shanghai Restoration Project Honour the One-Year Anniversary Of The Sichuan Earthquakes
Folk/Electronica Collaboration Melds Post-Earthquake Soundscapes With the Voices Of Relocated School Children and Their Faraway Families For Benefit Album ‘Afterquake’

National Multi-Media Museum Exhibition Planned For 2009 & 2010

Digital & Limited Edition EP CD Available May 12th 2009

Portion Of All Proceeds To Benefit Sichuan Quake Relief

In honour of the one-year anniversary of the Sichuan Earthquakes, two pioneers in entirely different genres — folk and electronica — have merged to increase knowledge and understanding of the continuing aftermath of the earthquake. More than 88,000 have died, with upwards of 5 million left homeless or relocated. A portion of the proceeds from this EP will benefit the Sichuan Quake Relief organization.
Afterquake is a collection of raw, remixed field recordings of post-earthquake soundscapes as well as performances by relocated children and their faraway parents captured and produced by Abigail Washburn and Shanghai Restoration Project creator Dave Liang, in cooperation with Sichuan Quake Relief. Currently in the Chinese countryside, they will complete the entire record start to finish in two weeks’ time.
The collaboration was inspired in 2008 through Abigail’s volunteer work for Sichuan Quake Relief where she performed in ‘relocation schools’ with kids from pre-school to high school – most of whom were relocated from mountain villages to schools in new locations far from their families.

“The children and teachers expressed intense grief at the loss of home and family,” says Washburn, a former Sichuan resident featured in Newsweek for her “weirdly wonderful” blend of Chinese culture and American-roots music. “I wanted to return and record their stories and songs in their own voices.”

A kindred spirit was found in collaborator Dave Liang, whose Shanghai Restoration Project combines the sounds of traditional Chinese instruments with hip-hop and electronica. His project has been featured on NPR, KCRW, KEXP and the Beijing Olympics.

Despite the tragic nature of the events inspiring this record, the sounds of the children captured by Liang and Washburn are encouraging and uplifting: playground noises – ping pong, basketball, jacks, handclapping games – are melded into a danceable rhythm; a 7th grade student performs a traditional Qiang minority dance song for her classmates; Tibetan sisters recite a bedtime prayer their mom used to sing to them; a relocated boy sings a ballad about missing his mom over the sounds of his parents rebuilding their house.

Afterquake will be available May 12th 2009 as a digital EP and limited edition CD, exactly one year to the day of the earthquakes.

shanghairestorationproject.com // abigailwashburn.com // www.afterquakemusic.com

For more information contact: Carla Parisi at Kid Logic, kidlogic@nj.rr.com or +1 973-563-0204

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‘Afterquake’ CD release party

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

Location: Bookworm, Chengdu 9pm to midnight or later.

Buy an EP or Premium Charity Package
Listen to Dave and Abigail’s interview on NPR’s All Things Considered

Party!  Abigail and Co. will play track from the album they have been recording for the past month, details of which follow.

Cost: only what you spend at the bar!

Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow QuartetAbigail Washburn & The Shanghai Restoration Project Honour One Year Anniversary Of The Sichuan Earthquakes By Melding Post-Earthquake Soundscapes With the Voices Of Relocated School Children and Their Faraway Families For Benefit Album ‘Afterquake’.

National Multi-Media Museum Exhibition Planned For 2009 & 2010

Digital & Limited Edition EP CD Available May 12th

Portion Of All Proceeds to benefit Sichuan Quake Relief

In honour of the one-year anniversary of the Sichuan Earthquakes, two pioneers in entirely different genres – folk and electronica – have merged to increase knowledge and understanding of the continuing aftermath of the earthquake. More than 88,000 have died, with upwards of 5 million left homeless or relocated. A portion of the proceeds from this EP will benefit the Sichuan Quake Relief organization. Afterquake is a collection of raw, remixed field recordings of post- earthquake soundscapes as well as performances by relocated children and their faraway parents captured and produced by Abigail Washburn and Shanghai Restoration Project creator Dave Liang, in cooperation with Sichuan Quake Relief.  Currently in the Chinese countryside, they will complete the entire record start to finish in two weeks’ time.

Abigail WashburnThe collaboration was inspired in 2008, through Abigail’s volunteer work for Sichuan Quake Relief where she performed in ‘relocation schools’ with kids from pre-school to high school – most of whom were relocated from mountain villages to schools in new locations far from their families. “The children and teachers expressed intense grief at the loss of home and family,” says Washburn, a former Sichuan resident featured in Newsweek for her “weirdly wonderful” blend of Chinese culture and American-roots music. “I wanted to return and record their stories and songs in their own voices.”

A kindred spirit was found in collaborator Dave Liang, whose Shanghai Restoration Project combines the sounds of traditional Chinese music and old 1930s Shanghai jazz bands with the Western sounds of electronica. His project has been featured on NPR, KCRW, KEXP and the Beijing Olympics.  Soundscaping the aftermath of a devastating earthquake the expectation would be music with a heavy heart, but the sounds of the children are uplifting and inspiring. A relocated boy is featured singing a ballad about missing his mom over the sounds of his parents rebuilding their house with rubble from the old one, and a 7th grade girl performs a Qiang minority song inciting everyone to dance.

Tibetan sisters recite the bedtime mantra their mom would sing to them over local samples of Sichuan Opera percussion. Playground sounds – ping pong, basketball, jax, handclapping games – are set to hip hop grooves, and the earthquake sounds are emulated by the students intense hums, looped into beat.

Afterquake will be available May 12th as a digital EP and limited edition CD, exactly one-year to the day of the earthquakes.
shanghairestorationproject.com // abigailwashburn.com // afterquakemusic.com

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SQR trip: March 12th – 14th 2009: Emei Shan with Abigail Washburn

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

Title: SQR trip: March 12th – 14th 2009: Emei Shan with Abigail Washburn
Location: Emei Shan
Description: SQR trip: March 12th – 14th 2009: Emei Shan with singer/songwriter Abigail Washburn, who has already performed at several venues for victims of the quake.
Start Date: 2009-03-12
End Date: 2009-03-14

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“Foreigners give children fun day,” China Daily

Monday, June 2nd, 2008

From the China Daily:

SHIFANG, Sichuan: Oliver Baudouy knelt on the dusty ground amid the rubble of Bayi Primary School and played the drums. The simple but strangely attractive rhythm started to draw children from the village. They became increasingly mesmerized by the music but kept their distance from the man. Baudouy’s fellow foreigners started dancing and invited their young audience to join them. The visitors’ exaggerated movements and facial expressions made the children laugh.

That was how 40 expatriates yesterday celebrated Children’s Day with hundreds of youngsters in the rural areas of Shifang, about two hours’ drive away from Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan. The foreigners were part of relief efforts for the May 12 quake that devastated the province.

The expats, aged between 18 and 60, come from 30 countries, including the United States, Britain, France, Ireland and Germany. Most of them work in Chengdu. “We wanted to spend the day with children in the mountains rather than in a city to deliver the message that they are not forgotten,” Peter Goff, who organized the day’s activities, said.

The team visited three different places in Luoshui county, a region severely hit by the quake. The treks to the areas were harsh, with county roads virtually destroyed by the quake, but the visitors were not deterred.

“A nice smile on a child’s face was all the reward we needed. It warmed our hearts,” said Baudouy, a Canadian teacher of the English and French languages.

It was the first time for He Jia to see so many foreigners in person. The 11-year-old girl had previously only seen such foreigners on TV . “I think they are very funny, especially when they are dancing,” she said, as her friends and classmates played with the men. The girl could not wait to show people what was inside her pockets. They were stuffed with candy. “The foreigners gave them to me for Children’s Day,” the pupil said, beaming.

“The students have never been so playful in the aftermath of the quake,” said villager Yang Xiaohong, who later joined the dance with the children. Yang said the children stayed at home or in makeshift sheds after the primary school collapsed. Watching TV was the only leisure activity they had. More than 1,700 gifts were distributed to the children, including balls, toy cars, dolls and sports equipment.

The EtonHouse International School in Chengdu donated most of the gifts. “We tried to choose gifts that more than one person could play with, which means more people can have fun,” said the school’s principal, Sarah Moore. Frenchman Max De Villers agreed, saying that children needed activities to keep them busy, as they have a lot of energy that needs to be “let off”. Staying in a crowded tent was not good for them. “Playing is one important step for them to return to normal life,” he added.

Various activities, such as painting, drum lessons and ball games, took place on the site after more children and their parents joined the visitors. The children were also eager to take photos with the foreigners. Gradually, the ruins became a happy playground for the young quake victims yesterday. “Happiness is very important. Even though you have experienced difficult times, life must go on, and you must enjoy your life, ” said Baudouy.

More photos can be seen in SQR’s photo gallery of the day.

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“Sichuan Foreigners Rally to Help Locals”, People’s Daily Online

Monday, May 19th, 2008

From the People’s Daily:

The Chengdu expat community is rallying to support locals in relief and recovery efforts to overcome this disaster. Foreigners want to give and want to personally help the victims of this natural disaster in anyway they can. Under the auspices of local expat businesses, appeals have begun for donations.

Peter Goff, in partnership with Chengdu residents and through the cooperation of The Bookworm, is leading one of these appeals. The Bookworm is a bustling expat online community on book and culture-related activity and has branches in Beijing, Chengdu, and in Suzhou of East China’s Jiangsu province.

The Bookworm Chengdu has become a focal point in assisting expat support for quake victims. Smaller groups, such as Heart to Heart and Morning Tears, are also providing food, water, shelter and medicines.

Expat music acts, including the Bossma Band, Mark on the Piano, Proximity Butterfly and Red Water performed to raise funds at a Bookworm event last Thursday. Heart to Heart also gave a short presentation on their current operations in the affected areas. From the successful one night, more than 33,000 yuan ($4,700) was raised in funds from about 100 members of the local expat community to be directly used by local groups in the relief effort.

Further donations, especially cash, are still welcomed by the groups. Much needed items include: non-perishable food, basic medicines, tents, blankets, sleeping bags, stretchers, small power-generators, small water sanitation equipment, and simple housing materials. The local expat community is also committed to helping fellow residents in the medium to longer-term community recovery efforts. This community recovery process is held together by communication of information which enables people to know what is needed, co-ordinate their activities and avoid creating additional problems.

Sichuan expats centered on the activities of The Bookworm are moving forward to helping interpret the information on all current relief operations and exactly where and when people can help to make a difference to those affected by the disastrous earthquake. For more information regarding donations and recovery efforts, contact the Bookworm on (+86) 028 8552-0177.

The author is Australian Youth Ambassador for Development with the Chengdu Urban Rivers Association.

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