If you have played music before, you might already be familiar with time signatures such as 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4. But have you ever heard of time signatures like 1.618 and 1.732? There is an infinite number of rhythms, including fractional, or non-integer, time signatures which are neither random nor do they repeat. There are even fractional rhythms which go on and on and take an astronomical amount of years to complete.

 

In this workshop, participants will be able to play enigmatic rhythms with handmade bamboo percussion that could perplex even a pro. That said, these rhythms contain a festive, folk feel despite their underlying complexities. To start, we will learn about the “rhythm of the golden ratio”, or so-called “music of the sixth dimension”. Handmade bamboo percussion will be provided to participants, and you are welcome to bring any other types of small, wooden percussion with you as well.

 

The workshop will be led by Japan-based artist Akio Hizume whose large-scale, site-specific bamboo installation will be shown at the Craft and Folk Art Museum BAMBOO exhibition from May 27 through September 9, 2018.

 

Born in Nagano, 1960, and currently living in Shizuoka, Japan. Graduated from the Department of Architecture, Kyoto Institute of Technology. Searching for all form around, whether material or immaterial. Primarily, a geometric artist using the Fibonacci Sequence, Penrose Tiling and the Golden Ratio, as well as general quasi-periodic structures based on continued fractions. Lover of ecology and bamboo as an attractive material.