Sound of Tea 2, The Forge, Camden, London

What/Why:

The Sound of Tea returns to The Forge to bring ancient Chinese culture into contemporary performing arts. Award-winning musician Cheng-Ying Chuang is joined by Tea Artisan, Audrey Sun for an evening that explores a cultural and inspirational take on Taiji, tea and music. Traditional yet creative, tonight’s event embarks on a journey of the tea ceremony with traditional Chinese music and builds the contemporary dialogue with Taiji movement.

The tea ceremony is a combination of Audrey’s own creation with elements of an ancient Chinese tea ceremony from the Tang Dynasty (618-907AD). Chuang’s instrumental and vocal music will accompany the audience into the terroir (where the tea grows) and flavor of tea which you will taste during the event and provide an evocative soundscape to the ceremony and Taiji movement. All the tea used is the best premium quality loose leaf tea and is provided by The Chinese Tea Company.

Programme (categorised with names of premium Chinese teas used tonight):

Dragon Well with Osmanthus (top green tea with Osmanthus flower)
Traditional Chinese music recital from Jiangsu & Zhejiang Provinces where Dargon Well grows

Silver Needle White Fur (top white tea made from the first spring tea buds)
Tea ceremony theatre based on the Tea Meditation in Tang Dynasty, Buddhism scripture chanting, religious percussion and improvised Chinese lute music

Black tea with Chrysanthemum (Black tea from Hunan Province with Chrysanthemum flower)
Music from Hunan/Hubei where the Black Tea grows and and West China where it is transported in “Tea-Horse Ancient Road”