RECORDING EXPEDITIONS IN BURMA
By Greg Simmons
24 April 2017
Looking for something new and exciting? Interested in the music of other cultures? Want to improve your recording skills?
Greg Simmons, AudioTechnology’s founding editor, has announced three educational and affordable recording expeditions in Burma (aka Myanmar) for this coming August and September. Aimed at audio students, industry pros, musicians and composers, each 11-day expedition focuses on recording the music of a different culture. The expeditions run end-to-end and can be taken together to form a longer journey.
These highly educational expeditions include a number of advanced audio lectures along the way, and put an emphasis on microphone choice and placement. Recording unfamiliar instruments in unfamiliar settings requires new ways of thinking about recording in general, and ultimately equips the participants with new skills and concepts that can be applied to any recording situation.
Expedition #1 [Water Tribes, 21st to 31st August] starts in Yangon with a studio session recording traditional Burmese instruments before heading overland to Inle Lake to record the music of the Pa-O, Danaw and Kayah tribes who live on and around the lake. The expedition continues overland to Mandalay and finishes with a recording of Burmese court music.
Expedition #2 [Hill Tribes, 1st to 11th September] starts in Mandalay with a studio session recording traditional Burmese instruments before heading northeast to Hsipaw and trekking to nearby villages to record the music of the Shan and Palaung hill tribes. Returning to Mandalay, the expedition finishes with a recording of Burmese court music.
Expedition #3 [Ancient Ruins, 12th to 22nd September] starts in Mandalay with a studio session recording traditional Burmese instruments before heading south down the Irrawaddy River to the Bagan Archaeological Zone to record local musicians among the temple ruins. The expedition finishes with a studio session in Yangon.
Since 2004 Greg Simmons has taken over 80 people on his educational recording expeditions through Nepal, India, Tibet, Thailand, Borneo and Burma, so he’s no stranger to leading groups through these fascinating but challenging cultures and terrains.
“My sound expeditions combine a passion for music and recording with a sense of adventure and a desire for escapism,” says Greg. “They’re challenging enough to be highly rewarding, but they’re not too difficult. They’re also highly educational, not only from a recording point of view but from a ‘life’ point of view: rather than taking snapshots through the window of a tourist bus, you’ll find yourself rubbing shoulders with some of the most interesting people you’ll ever meet… and recording them!”
For more info visit www.soundexpeditions.com or email [email protected]
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