Nara to Norwich: A Night of Religious Musical Traditions from the UK and Japan

In conjunction with the exhibition Celebrating 25 years of the Sainsbury Institute – Nara to Norwich (20-25 May 2024)

The Nara to Norwich exhibition is the result of an international, collaborative research project that aims to explore the Silk Roads beyond their current limits of the Chinese and post-Roman worlds. Focusing primarily on the interactions between early Buddhism in east Asia and early Christianity around the North Sea, the project explores the microhistories of material culture, landscapes, and literature to weave a narrative concerning the transformation of religions as they journeyed eastwards to Nara in Japan and westwards to Norwich in Britain.
In conjunction with this exhibition, we will be hosting a night of performances that embody the main themes of the project, exploring the evolving musical traditions of worship at St Peter Mancroft, as represented by their choir, and Buddhist o-shо̄myо̄, or ritual chant performed by Karyōbinga Shōmyō Kenkyūkai from Japan. The evening will also feature an introduction from Professor Fabio Rambelli, Professor of Japanese religions at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

This event forms part of the Japan in Norwich programme, celebrating 25 years of the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures.

This event is presented by Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures with St Peter Mancroft choir; Karyōbinga Shōmyō Kenkyūkai, Japan; Professor Fabio Rambelli (University of California, Santa Barbara).