Translating Oneself Through Music

What are the complications associated with translating a musician from one tradition to another?

In this session, we will be joined by two musicians who have integrated themselves into traditions that are radically different from their own, hearing about the impact that transplanting oneself to another tradition inevitably makes us reflect on our own background. 

Our speakers are Thomas Charles Marshall, who has integrated himself into the Japanese tradition of the Satsuma Biwa, a short-necked lute; and Arthur Greene, who has immersed himself into the Carnatic music of southern India. 

Thomas Charles Marshall is a musician from Ireland. He was trained in piano, organ and flute. After graduating from University, he travelled to Japan and, over the course of 14 years, he studied the shakuhachi flute with Araki Kodo V and the Satsuma Biwa lute with Yoshinori Fumon. Yoshinori Fumon (1911-2003) was the last great exponent of the Satsuma Biwa, performing since the Golden Age of Biwa before the Second World War. Since December 1994, Marshall has been studying and playing the Satsuma Biwa.

In May 2005, Marshall was selected to perform as part of "The Melody of Japan" a performance given by International and Japanese Musicians and sponsored by the The Agency for Cultural Affairs. He has collaborated with non-Japanese musicians including with Irish harp giving performances in Edinburgh and in Japan.

He writes a blog at satsumabiwa.eu

Arthur Greene is an Irish keyboardist and composer. He read music at Trinity
College Dublin whilst studying organ under Dr David Adams. He held the post of college organ scholar during this time from 2018-2020. He completed a masters in performance in the Royal Irish Academy of Music, graduating with a distinction in 2021. During his masters he took up the harpsichord and also studied composition under Dr Kevin O'Connell. Arthur was the organ scholar at Christ Church Cathedral Dublin for two years from 2021-2023. Today he works as a teacher, composer, performer and organic farmer. 

In Spring 2024 Arthur followed a musical pipe dream and travelled to India to study Carnatic music. He spent two months studying and living with his guru Dr karaikudi Subramanian, a venerable 9th generation vina player and renowned pedagogue.