News

14 Aug 2012

World Music Expedition!

Looking for something new and exciting? Have a sense of adventure? Interested in the music of other cultures? Want to gain new sound recording skills?

Greg Simmons has room for a few more people on his eighth ‘guerrilla ethnomusicology’ recording expedition through Asia and the Himalaya. Scheduled from the 17th of December 2012 to the 20th of January 2013, the journey travels through Tibet, India and Nepal, stopping along the way to make recordings in studios, villages, monasteries and wherever else music is found. An optional week in Thailand extends the finish date to the 26th of January.

Since 2004 Greg has spent considerable time on location recording the music of Asia and the Himalaya, and has gathered a huge amount of experience in the process. He’s also taken over 50 people on his group recording expeditions, so he’s no stranger to leading groups through these fascinating but often challenging cultures and terrains.

“We’ll be travelling on buses, trains, jeeps, rickshaws, camels and, of course, footslogging it through the foothills of the Himalaya” says Greg. “Each new location introduces us to a different culture, a different language and a different music. We’ll also be working in an extreme range of temperatures, from the sub-zero of Everest Base Camp to the heat of the Thar desert and the humidity of the tropics. It’s a real test for people and equipment!”

With over 30 years of professional audio experience and 27 years of audio teaching experience, it’s no surprise to see that Greg includes a highly educational component.

“Many of the recordings we make on these expeditions are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities with great educational value,” says Greg. “Before each recording I explain the approach I’m using, why I’m using it and what I’m hoping to achieve. Afterwards we evaluate the recording and decide if it was successful. Although the approach is specific to each particular recording, the thinking behind it can be applied to many other recording situations. Of course, my co-travellers can make their own recordings if they bring their own equipment.”

Destinations for the forthcoming trip include Kathmandu, Lhasa, Kolkata, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Mumbai and Chennai. Those doing the optional week in Thailand can add Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Mae Sot, and top it all off with a few relaxing days on a tropical island before returning home.

“These group recording expeditions combine a passion for music and recording with a sense of adventure and a desire for escapism. They’re challenging enough to be highly rewarding, but they’re not too difficult”, Greg says. “They’re also highly educational, not only from a recording point of view but also from a life point of view: instead of taking snapshots through the window of a tourist bus, you’ll find yourself interacting with some of the most fascinating people you’re ever likely to meet. So don’t let that tax return burn a forgettable hole in your pocket, let it burn an unforgettable experience into your life…”

For further information, contact Greg Simmons via email: simmosonic@gmail.com

 

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