On Saturday night 15 April, there will be a Night of Light with Japanese music, during which you can listen to Japanese flutes and shrutibox in the Dom in Utrecht. Read more about this concert organised by the Japan Fans Foundation.
On Saturday evening 15 April, lovers of meditative music and Japanese culture will find their way to the Dom Church in Utrecht. There, Martine Mussies and Henk Westland will play traditional Japanese Zen music on tenor flute and shrutibox, complemented by Japanese folk music and classical music by composers such as Tōru Takemitsu and Ikuma Dan. The concert is part of the “Night of Light” series in which the doors of the church are open to anyone who needs a moment of peace and quiet.
Martine Mussies, musicologist and founder of “Japan Fans”, plays more than 40 different flutes. For this concert, she will play the shakuhachi and the Garklein flute, among others. “What stands out about Japanese music is its stillness, effects and sounds. The music plays with the idea of imperfection, which make every piece different,” Mussies said.
Henk Westland, known for his work as Vesper cantor and the annual “Mini Matthew”, plays on the shrutibox. This is an instrument originally from India and widely used in meditative music. The instrument has a drone-like sound and can be used to accompany other instruments. Henk and Martine know each other from the Dom cantorij.
The Night of Light starts at 20.15 and offers visitors the opportunity to light a candle and enjoy the church’s atmospheric ambience. At 10pm, the evening will conclude with an evening prayer. The series takes place every third Saturday evening of the month and attracts visitors from the city and region as well as tourists.
This Night of Light with Japanese music was organised with the support of the “Japan Fans” foundation, which aims to establish a Japanese Cultural Centre in Utrecht. The evening is free of charge. More information about the concert and the Night of Light can be found at www.domkerk.nl.
