| Saturday Apr 27, 2013 7:30 PM - Saturday Apr 27, 2013 9:00 PM | $10.00 - $25.00 |
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Event
Al Andalus Ensemble "Lights and Shadows: Luces y Sombras"
Join the international Al Andalus Ensemble for a poignant evening "Lights and Shadows: Luces y Sombras"
WEBSITE: http://www.Andalus.com
This Al Andalus Ensemble performance explores concepts of "Lights and Shadows: Luces y Sombras" while bridging East and West as well as Classical and World music genres and showcasing a dynamic gender-bending approach to flamenco dance . Audiences can expect a program with rich and unusual instrumentation (oud, cello, ney, flamenco guitar, darbuka), songs sung in many languages including Ladino (Sephardic Jewish), Arabic, Spanish punctuated by exhilarating flamenco dance. Al Andalus was a time when Jews, Christians & Muslims lived in peaceful co-existence (Spain 711-1492). Recent awards include the VOX Pop Award for "Best Contemporary Classical Album of 2010 and the Peoples Grammy Award for "Best World Music Song 2009" (selected from 560,000 entries from 163 countries) .
Al Andalus Ensemble founders Tarik & Julia Banzi (oud, ney & flamenco guitar) join with multi-lingual vocalist Emily Miles, punctuated by Barcelona, Spain's modern day Carmen Amaya; Cristina Chacón (flamenco dance).
Cristina Chacón is a flamenco dancer and choreographer with a uniquely powerful dance style and dynamic gender-bending approach to flamenco. Born in Barcelona, Spain where she learned dance led by the hand of Karime Amaya (the grandniece of the famed Carmen Amaya ), this extraordinary young dancer danced the lead role in the Barcelona homage to Carmen Amaya "de Carmen: Ballant a la Sorra" 2012 (Barcelona is Carmen Amaya's birthplace). This is Cristina's first visit to the United States. http://youtu.be/uYxBXJbWLqw
* Carmen Amaya (Barcelona, Spain 1917-1963) She has been called "the greatest Spanish gypsy dancer of her generation" and "the most extraordinary personality of all time in flamenco dance." Amaya teamed with the great flamenco guitarist Sabicas with whom he recorded "Queen of the Gypsies" and " Flamenco!" (1959)
Lights and Shadows: Luces y Sombras
All opposites such as light and shadow, sound and silence, movement and stillness, life and death are utterly inseparable, they belong together. Absolute reality is a unity of contrasts, they are all one, we are all one, there are no boundaries. "Lights and Shadows" explores the concept of non-duality through music, dance and song with a universal approach. Non-duality is the philosophical, spiritual, and scientific understanding of non-separation and fundamental oneness.
"Christian, Jew, Muslim, shaman, Zoroastrian, stone, ground, mountain, river, each has a secret way of being with the mystery, unique and not to be judged" Rumi
The artists of the Al-Andalus Ensemble build a new artistic language that unifies Eastern & Western cultures and generates a work that is rich, layered and socially conscious, expanding the artistic horizons of both experts and novices alike. Further the advancement of international understanding, goodwill & peace by supporting a group that reflects a place and time where Jews, Christians & Muslims lived together for a cultural flourishing: Al-Andalus.
We would appreciate it greatly if you would please assist us in bringing this unique event to the attention of the public. If you have any questions or require any further information, please contact:
Al Andalus Events: http://www.Andalus.com
503-230-2379.
Advance Tickets: 1-800-838-3006
This event is co-sponsored by the Reed College Department of Music, The Lewis & Clark Deptment of Music, The Portland Guitar Society and the 2013 NW Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit of the Early Music Guild of Oregon.
Additional Information
The Al-Andalus Ensemble pushes the boundaries of sonority and texture to bring out performances of wonderful commitment. The Al Andalus Ensemble is steeped in tradition, beautifully and soulfully merging classical, jazz and contemporary music with the music from the Middle East, North Africa and Spain. This collaboration yields a vigorous contemporary World-chamber ensemble that skillfully creates new and original music, retaining the essential soul and spirit of Middle Eastern, North African and Spanish influences while fearlessly exploring new territory.
Performing to universal acclaim through a repertoire that embodies a new sonic vision that embraces our global cultural heritage, they are considered Ambassadors of Goodwill. The Al-Andalus Ensemble's international engagements have taken them to Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Holland, Morocco, Malaysia, Spain, Switzerland, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and the United States. Whether performing for such notables as Queen Sofia of Spain or Princess Haifa Al-Saud of Saudia Arabia Al-Andalus gives all audiences that royal treatment and create what reviewers have called "a delightful proposition of exquisite music" (El Pais, Madrid, Spain). The Al-Andalus Ensemble pursues a singular artistic vision that reminds us that the intricate interplay of diverse voices are the geography of cultural harmony.
Historically, Al Andalus was a time when Christians, Jews & Muslims lived in peaceful co-existence (Spain 711-1492). The Al-Andalus Ensemble locates its creative impetus in the rebirth of Al-Andalus in todays cultural landscape. Al-Andalus Ensemble founders Moroccan oudist Tarik Banzi and female flamenco guitarist Julia Banzi, multi-lingual vocalist Emily Miles and dynamic gender-bending flamenco dance and choreography of Cristina Chacón of Barcelona, Spain combine to create an emotive tapestry of sight and sound.
The Al Andalus Ensemble most recent album"21 Strings,"with Grammy-winning Charlie Bisharat (violinist for phenoms Alanis Morissette, The Rolling Stones, Jane's Addiction, Yanni and others the ensemble won the VOX POP Award for the "Best Contemporary Classical Album of 2010" and the JPF "People's Grammy Award" for "Best World Music Song of 2009" (selected from over 560,000 songs entered from 163 countries in the world's largest Independent Music Awards). The concert promises to be a fascinating evening where parallels and contrasts will be drawn between the old and the new.
The Al Andalus Ensemble takes its name from medieval southern Spain, during a time when Jews, Muslims and Christians lived together in peace and cooperatively made great advances in the arts and sciences. The name "Al Andalus" was given to this time of cultural tolerance and innovation in Spain, and the Al Andalus Ensemble embodies Al Andalus era's values in its composition and performance, celebrating international understanding, goodwill and peace through passionate music and dance presentations.
Tarik Banzi (Oud, percussion, composer, PhD. Fine Arts) "a superbly gifted player" (All Music Guide) is from one of the founding families of Tetuan and traces his roots back to medieval Al Andalus, Spain. A preserver and innovator of Andalusian music, Tarik has collaborated with Flamenco, jazz and contemporary masters such as Paco de Lucia, Manolo Sanlucar and Enrique Morente. He introduced the darbuka and udu drums to modern flamenco music; they are now cornerstones of the movement.
Cristina Chacón (Flamenco Dance) is a flamenco dancer, choreographer, and instructor with a uniquely powerful dance style and dynamic gender-bending approach to flamenco. Born in Barcelona, Spain, Cristina has been surrounded by flamenco since birth. In Barcelona she learned dance led by the hand of Karime Amaya (the grandniece of the famed Carmen Amaya). Cristina later went on to study with some of Spains most celebrated dancers including Belén Maya, Farruquito and Manolete. This extraordinary young dancer danced the lead role in the 2012 homage to Carmen Amaya "de Carmen: Ballant a la Sorra" with the Trànsit Dansa company in Barcelona, Spain 2012 (Carmen Amaya's birthplace). This is Cristina's first visit to the United States and her message is clear "This is a dance form that is alive and well, not a relic of the past."
*Carmen Amaya (Barcelona, Spain 1917-1963) She has been called "the greatest Spanish gypsy dancer of her generation" and "the most extraordinary personality of all time in flamenco dance." Amaya teamed with the great flamenco guitarist Sabicas with whom he recorded "Queen of the Gypsies" and "Flamenco!" (1959)
Julia Banzi (Guitarist, Ph.D. Ethnomusicology) is one of a very few female flamenco guitarists worldwide and a pioneer in researching women's Andalusian music. Her work reflects her over twenty years of living, studying and performing in North Africa and Spain , studying flamenco with some of Spain's finest guitarists such as Manolo Sanlucar, Isidro Munoz and Gerardo Núñez. Julia holds a Doctorate degree in Ethnomusicology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and is a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar who teaches at Reed College and Lewis & Clark College.
Emily Miles (Voice) is a multi-lingual vocalist with roots in American gospel, folk rock and jazz. David Stabler of the Oregonian describes her voice as full of "duende." With Al Andalus, Emily sings a wide range of music, from medieval Ladino and Arabic love songs to American spirituals and Garcia Lorca poetry.
Al Andalus Ensemble for an exciting evening "Lights and Shadows: Luces y Sombras" on April 27th 2013 at 7:30 pm in The Chapel in Eliot Hall at Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd. Portland, 97202.
Advance Tickets: 1-800-838-3006
Al Andalus Ensemble http://www.Andalus.com
503-230-2379
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LocationThe Chapel, Eliot Hall at Reed College (View)
3203 SE Woodstock Blvd
Portland, OR 97202
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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