TENCHI SHINMEI                                       £12 (£10) 
7.30pm – 8.30pm at St John’s (venue 127

The newest production by Japanese Taiko Drum group Tokara, headed by Art Lee, the only person ever awarded an artist visa by the Japanese government, and the only non-Japanese to win first place in Tokyo’s Odaiko Championships. This year, Tokara present their newest work ‘Tenchi Shinmei’ (The Gods of Heaven and Earth), inspired by the late Grandmaster Daihachi Oguch. ‘Tenchi Shinmei’ calls upon the purest of Shinto beliefs that all things in the universe, both animate and inanimate, spring from the life of heaven and earth.

Dates: 9th - 20th (except 12th & 19th)

DOMINIKA ESKA AND THE GOLDEN RULE:
“FAITH”, CHOPIN 2010, MOZART AND LISZT     £8 (£6) 
7.30pm – 8.30pm, St Mary’s RC Cathedral, York Place (venue 91)

A piano performance the composers would have wished for. Edinburgh is proud to welcome the virtuoso, Dominika Eska. She is travelling here from Kraków - Edinburgh’s partner city in Poland – to perform an enthralling personal selection of Chopin, especially for Chopin 2010, his bicentenary concerts. She will also inspire and thrill with her own compositions from her album “Faith”, as well as with her interpretations

Date:  9th only (see also World Cafe Live on 10th)

THE GOLDEN THREAD OF POETRY  (by donation) 
Tessa Ransford and friends

Celebrated poet Tessa Ransford will read her poems (including Rilke translations) with each day a specially-chosen poet friend or two from various parts of Scotland who will offer an hour of beauty that is also truth.

Featuring Walter Perrie, Morelle Smith, Alexander Hutchison, Joe Proskauer, Nalini Paul, Morgan Downie, Pam Beasant, Rosie Alexander, Jila Peacock, Tariq Latif, Pauline Prior-Pitt, Chrys Salt, Hazel Cameron, Dawn Wood and singer-songwriter Toby Mottishead.

Various dates and times, see Programme for more information.

(by donation)

WORLD CAFÉ LIVE tonight
Cathal McConnell, Duncan Wood & friends          £8(£6)
7pm to 10.30pm in World Café @ St John’s (venue 127)

Award-winning Irish folk legend Cathal McConnell and Scottish fiddle master Duncan Wood, together with guests, team up to present an exciting programme of traditional music throughout the festival.

Cathal, a founder member of the Boys of the Lough, is an international star in every sense – This year he completed his 80th tour of the United States and recently was named Irish Traditional Singer of the Year 2010. Cathal’s flute and whistle playing and Duncan’s unique fiddle style blend effortlessly together in a mixture of rare and interesting tunes from the eighteenth century to the present day, evidence of which can be heard on their recent, highly acclaimed CD Auld Springs Gies Nae Price.

Dates: 11th 15th** 24th and 25th

                 ** 15th not Cathal McConnell

A CELEBRATION OF FAITH THROUGH MUSIC         £3 (£2)
7pm – 8pm at St Columba’s, 14 Johnston Terrace (venue 4)

This popular event moves from Glasgow to Edinburgh for the first time. This is a unique event which brings the main faith traditions together to express their commitment and love for their faith through music. It brings people together from all cultures and backgrounds and promotes peace, dialogue, understanding, love and friendship. From Bollywood Singers to Jewish choirs and from Muslim singers to Sikh drummers. Please come along and support what is a worthy cause with all profits from the evening going towards FISCAF a charity helping to fight poverty across the whole of Scotland.

Tickets are only available from the Mission and Discipleship office on 0131 225 5722 or for further information email Iain Stewart (Church of Scotland Inter-Faith Worker) at istewart@cofscotland.org.uk 

Dates: 12th August, tickets available on the door

SONGS OF PEACE: 
A RECITAL OF BERNSTEIN AND MAHLER           £8(£6) 
4pm – 5pm at St John’s (venue 127)

Soprano Ciara Burrows and pianist James Cleeve perform the songs of Bernstein and Mahler. Mahler, a man of great spirituality, continually searched for meaning in life using themes of nature and mysticism in his vocal music. His music had a profound effect on Leonard Bernstein, a great force for peace in his lifetime and ever since through his music. He profoundly believed in the power of music as a unifying force in the search for brotherhood and peace.

Dates: 13th and 14th  

FAIR TRADE FRIDAY 
7pm - 10.30pm in the World Café @ St John’s (venue 127) 


A fabulous night of music, drink, tastings of fairtrade food and free samples from the One World Shop. Music from CAULD STANE SLAP, a high octane traditional Irish and Scottish Folk Band (see page 37 for full World Café listings)

Dates: 13th only

£5 (tickets only available on the door)

NATIONAL YOUTH CHOIR OF SCOTLAND TRAINING CHOIR
FREE (BY DONATION)
2pm – 3pm at St John’s (venue 127)

The NYCoS Training Choir gives singers aged 16 - 19 who need more experience, and perhaps time for their voices to develop, the opportunity to undertake challenging repertoire and have expert vocal, choral and individual coaching. The NYCoS Training Choir has developed into a fine young choir in its own right and is an important training ground for NYCoS. It is directed by Michael Kibblewhite, has its own dedicated team of singing and vocal staff and undertakes concerts on its own, as well as performing with NYCoS.

Date: 15th only

FREE (BY DONATION)

TASHI LHUNPO MONKS                 £7.50 (£6.50)
4pm – 5.15pm at St John’s (venue 127)

Far from a silent, meditative world, the Tibetan monastery is filled with the chanting of Buddhist texts, the recitation of mantras, the ringing of bells, the clashing of cymbals, the booming of the great long horns and the beating of drums. Eight Tibetan monks offer a dramatic presentation of their unique sacred dances, music and prayers, with colourful traditional costumes and ceremonial masks. The performances offer a rare opportunity to witness a unique and endangered culture.

Dates: 15th and 22nd only

IHRAH: SACRED WATERS by
RANEE RAMASWAMY and APARNA RAMASWAMY, 
Artistic Directors of Ragamala Dance                        £8 (£6)
4pm – 5pm at St John’s (venue 127) 

The rivers of India are revered as personifications of divinity. Since time immemorial, river worship has been performed in India to respect the vitality of water as a life-sustaining force. Based on the poetic sanctity of these rituals, Ihrah features Ragamala Dance’s Artistic Directors Ranee and Aparna Ramaswamy (named one of “25 to watch” in 2010 by Dance Magazine). Their creative vision seamlessly carries Bharatanatyam, the classical dance of southern India, into the 21st century while respecting the form’s rich tradition.

Date: 16th only

JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY

4pm – 5pm at St John’s (venue 127)

The Japanese Tea Ceremony, “Cha-no-Yu: Way of Tea”, originated in 16th century Japan. The 4 principals of the Tea Ceremony are Harmony, Respect, Purity and Tranquillity. It synthesizes the arts of elegant Kimono, flower arrangement, calligraphy, pottery and philosophy into a way of life. After the great popularity of last year’s Tea Ceremony at the Festival of Spirituality and Peace, qualified professor of Urasenke Mio Shapley warmly invites you once again to come and share a cup of peace and simplicity.

Dates: 17th and 25th only

(BY DONATION)

TRIO AKVANI IN CONCERT                    £6 (£4)
4pm – 5pm at St John’s (venue 127)

Trio Akvani led by Nana Mzhavanadze, brings you sacred and ritual chants and songs, both secular and liturgical from the Caucasus Republic of Georgia. Including recently re-discovered liturgical chants from the country’s ancient monastic chanting schools, chants thought to be on the verge of extinction. Georgian Polyphony is described by UNESCO as a “masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity”.

Dates: 18th 19th and 24th only

WAVERLEY CARE PRESENTS:
CHORAL CLASSICS                                           £10 (£8)
Conductor: Gregory Batsleer; Organist: Stuart Hope
6pm – 7:30pm at Mayfield Salisbury Church, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh 

Gregory Batsleer, Chorusmaster of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus and Director of the Hallé Youth Choir, conducts a massed Come and Sing choir in a concert of some of the best-loved music from the sacred choral repertoire. The programme includes extracts from “Messiah” and anthems by Hubert Parry and James MacMillan.

To join the chorus as a singer (daytime rehearsal), please contact Waverley Care directly on 0131 556 9710 or at (admin@waverleycare.org). Singers’ tickets are £12.50 (£9.50).

Date: 21st only

DO UNTO OTHERS…
THORNLIE SCHOOL AND THEIR PAL DATUNA
FREE (by donation)
7pm – 9pm at St John’s (venue 127)

When the children of Thornlie Primary school in Wishaw opened their door to welcome in a small disabled Georgian in urgent need of medical treatment, he ceased to be a charity case and became a friend. The children became passionate advocates on his behalf and their efforts changed not only his life, but also their own. In this Datuna Benefit event, the children tell their story, via an inspirational film, singing his country’s Georgian harmonies and inviting you to help them to fundraise for an operation to save his life. All the more remarkable, perhaps, because 5 years ago, this small social priority school had the worst school exclusion rates in the whole of Scotland.

Date: 21st only 

FREE (by donation)

THE CHOIR OF ST JOHN’S IN CONCERT              £8 (£5)  
7pm – 8.30pm at St John’s (venue 127)

This year the Annual Concert of The Choir of St. John’s has a distinctly American feel to it, prompted by the centenary celebrations of the birth of Samuel Barber whose famous Adagio for Strings will feature in the composer’s own arrangement for voices. However the message of the Festival of Spirituality & Peace is not far away; the concert also features Bernstein’s popular and rhythmically challenging Chichester Psalms, sung in Hebrew which sets verses from the Psalms, not least ‘Why do the nations rage so furiously together?’ (Ps 2) and ‘How good it is for brethren to dwell together in unity?’ (Ps 133). Also included in this varied and exciting concert will be Copland’s major setting of the Genesis story for unaccompanied choir, ‘In the beginning’, American folk songs and one or two rather mad surprises! A real choral treat - don’t miss it!

Dates: 26th only

COREEN SCOTT:
A SCOTTISH JOURNEY                       £8 (£6)  
4pm – 5pm at St John’s (venue 127)

Coreen’s warm and melodic voice takes flight in a programme of Scottish favourites and contemporary songs. Sit back, relax and let the soaring sound of Coreen’s enchanting voice soothe and uplift you. Some of Coreen’s musical friends and collaborators will join her on stage to provide rich harmonies and accompaniment. Among her musical friends are talented clarsach player Aislinn Faulkner, Jonny Gibbs and Alasdair Morrison on guitar.

Dates: 27th and 28th only 

ART DECO: JAZZ IN ST JOHN’S          £8 (£6)
2pm – 3pm at St John’s (venue 127)

The Art Deco is comprised of young musicians, all drawn from the folk, jazz and classical worlds, who play the unique compositions of Iona Bain, a pianist, cellist and singer. Following her acclaimed performance at the Old Fruitmarket in 2009, 22 year old Iona secured a jazz residency at the Glasgow Art Club and now records with producer Luke Lockhart, who has worked with Adele and The Noisettes. www.myspace.com/ionabain

Date: 29th only

ALEKSANDER KUDAJCZYK:
CHOPIN’S PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 IN E MINOR         £12 (£10)
7.30pm – 8.30pm at St John’s (venue 127)

A very special performance by world renowned pianist Aleksander Kudajczyk. Aleksander will be performing Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 accompanied by a string quartet in the beautiful surroundings of St John’s Church. A performance not to be missed and a truly fitting way to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Chopin’s birth. Featuring: Sandie Bishop and Lamond Gillespie (violins), Willem Mathlener (viola) and Magda Sekowska (cello).

Date: 30th only