Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Event Details

To mark the 1300th anniversary of Nara, the Centenary of Canberra is proud to present the pilot performance of The Living Instrument, KOJIKI, on the main stage of the Canberra Nara Candle Festival. 

In this unique performance, a mixed professional ensemble, comprising traditional Japanese and Western classical instruments, and two choirs will join forces to present stories from the Kojiki, the oldest book in Japan.  Stories of creation will be told in a unique stylised presentation, through a performance of music, story, dance and song, as a homage to Nara – a place and time in history that became a corner–stone to Japanese culture. 

Featuring arrangements of traditional Japanese songs by Mary Finsterer, Kojiki will be performed by Virginia Taylor, Alice Giles, David Pereira, David Dixon, Yukihiro Doi, the Woden Valley Youth Choir directed by Alpha Gregory and the ANU School of Music Choir - FLOTSOM, directed by Ruth Martin.

The Living Instrument's KOJIKI is a Centenary of Canberra pilot project for the Canberra Nara Candle Festival, proudly presented by the ACT Government. The Living Instrument is supported by the ANU School of Music, the National Folk Festival and ACT Special Events.

Featured artists

• New work by Mary Finsterer
• Performer ANU School of Music Choir FLOTSOM
• Performer Woden Valley Youth Choir
• Performer Alpha Gregory
• Performer David Pereira
• Performer Ruth Lee Martin
• Performer Virginia Taylor
• Performer David Dixon