The Arts March(es) On into October

Last Saturday, the Russell Library 2009 Fall 2009 Concert Series got off to a splendid start with Middletown resident and internationally known cellist Jason Duckles' excellent solo program.

This Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Hubbard Room, harpist Bridget Kibbey will perform. Originally scheduled to be a solo performance, the Library staff just learned earlier this week that Kibbey will be joined by world-renowned classical mandolinist Joseph Brent (both pictured here - photo by Andrew Walker) in a warmup for a future recording session. The duo has already recorded together on Brent's 2008 CD, the lovely "Point of Departure" (hear samples by clicking here.) For that session, they recorded music composed by De Falla, Bach, Piazzolla and Kioulaphides. For the Russell Library show, which is free and open to the public, the audience will hear music by Takemitsu, Bach, De Falla, and Beaser.

Both artists have great resumes, with Kibbey the winner of the 2007 Concert Artists Guild International Competition and having performed in venues around the world. Her debut CD, "Love Is Come", was issued in 2007 (click here for excerpts from the recording.) Brent has worked with The International Contemporary Ensemble, Argento Ensemble, Speculum Musicae, Fireworks Music, Tres Americas, and Henry Street Chamber Opera. as well as The Boston Symphony, The American Symphony Orchestra, New York City Ballet and City Opera, Juilliard Opera and Ballet Orchestras. He has also a busy career playing in jazz clubs and Broadway pit orchestras.

For more information, call 347-2528, extension 135.

Navaratri at Wesleyan has a busy day Saturday with 4 separate events planned including a Bharata Natyam Dance Workshop conducted by the Natya Dance Theater at 2 p.m. in Crowell Concert Hall. At 3 p. m. in the World Music Hall, Ravi Balasubramanian will deliver a lecture/demonstration on his specialty, the Ghatam or clay pot, a percussion instrument that will figure in a concert later that evening (see below.) At 4 p.m, in the CFA Hall (formerly the CFA Cinema), excerpts from the new documentary "Raga Unveiled" will be shown along with an introduction by the film's director Gita Desai, who lives in Avon, CT. All these events are free and open to the public.

That same evening at 8 p.m. in Crowell Concert Hall, one of the pioneers of playing Karnatak music on the alto saxophone, Kadri Gopalnath (pictured left), will perform in a quartet setting withe afore-mentioned Ravi Balasubramanian, A. Kanyakumari (violin) and B. Harikumar (mridangnam.) Gopalnath has a lovely tone on the alto and it sings and soars through the classical music. For more information about the man and
his music, go to www.kadrigopalnath.com. For ticket information, go to www.wesleyan.edu/cfa.


The quintet known as Jazz Folks comes to The Buttonwood Tree for a 7:30 p.m. show. Composed of Glenn Stevens (mandolin), Case Sanderlin (guitar), Frank Panzarella (guitar), Fred McKay (bass) and Bob Fappiano (percussion), the band blends many different styles of jazz with traditional Irish and American folk music for an evening of good melodies and fine improvisations. To find out more, go to www.jazzfolks.com.

Sunday Oct. 4:
The 2 final events in this year's Navaratri Festival occurs on this day starting with the "Saraswati Puja" (Hindu Ceremony) at 11 a.m. in the World Music Hall. This service, led by Dr. A. V. Srinivasan (pictured), includes blessings on instruments and manuscripts and is considered one of the best days to begin a new endeavor. The event is free and open to the public.

At 2 p.m. in Crowell Concert Hall, the Natya Dance Theater of Chicago, Hema Rajagopalan, artistic director, will present a program of Bharata Natyam, one of the oldest classical dance forms of India. In existence since 1975, the NDT's mission is "to preserve and perpetuate Bharata Natyam in all its classical rigor while moving the art form in innovative directions." They have performed all over the world with symphony orchestras, theater groups and choirs and are very active in their home base of Chicago. For ticket information, go to www.wesleyan.edu/cfa.

If you're interested in Shape Note Singing, join the Professor Neely Bruce at 4 p.m. in the Downey House, corner of Court & High Streets, for a rehearsal. You don't need to read music, just the desire to sing with other people. For more information, email to nbruce@wesleyan.edu.

The Buttonwood Tree hosts 2 events on Sunday. From 3 - 5 p.m., there will be an "Artist's Reception" for Nicholas Orsini, Middletown resident, whose works will grace the performance space through the month of October.

At 7 p.m., composer/saxophonist/instrument creator Terry Dame brings her group, the Electric Junkyard Gamelan, back to the Buttonwood for a "CD Release Party." "Life on Marz" is the latest collection of original music for the group (pictured), a quintet featuring Dame, Julian Hintz (accordion, percussion, voice), Mary Feaster (bass), Lee Frisari (drums, percussion) and Robin Burdulis (percussion.) Among the original instruments that band plays are the Rubarp and Big Barp (electric rubber band harps), the Sitello (electric sitar/cello combination), the Clayrimba (a tuned clay pot marimba) and a large assortment of hand-held percussion (including truck springs.) It's musical and lots of fun to watch. For more information, go to www.terrydame.com.

Navaratri at Wesleyan

Each year Wesleyan joins in the celebration of Navaratri, a nine-day festival celebrated throughout India. In conjunction with the Wesleyan Center for the Arts, a condensed (six days), but diverse set of lectures and performances will connect Middletown with the cities and villages of India.

While some student events have taken place over the past two days, the public celebration begins Wednesday afternoon with a lecture by B. Balasubrahmaniyan on Bollywood Music Culture (4:15 pm in the CFA Cinema, admission free), followed by a Bollywood Dance Workshop and a showing of the hit Bollywood film, directed by Mani Ratnam, Guru, at Beckham Hall in Fayerwether (Tickets $10 for the general public)

In a phone interview, B. explained that Navaratri is a celebration of the defeat of the buffalo-headed demon, who received a protection from death from Shiva. The demon is defeated by the goddess Devi. This defeat is celebrated as an ongoing recognition of the hoped for defeat of good over evil.

The celebration of the festival in India includes concerts, worship and food.

And while Bollywood films are not directly connected to the festival, their use of song and dance mirrors that of the festival.

According to Balasubrahmaniyan, nearly the entire output of the Indian film industry each year are these Bollywood films.

"You can hear every style of Indian music in these films," he said. "Indian classical music, folk music, pop music, Western music - even ethnic music like Salsa. These films are influenced by Western cinema, but they are a central part of Indian culture today."

Balasubrahmaniyan says that cinema, in theaters, is still very popular, even in the smallest villages. Huge crowds show up for a new film.

"The audience sings along, and claps and there is even dancing in the theater. But if the songs are bad, the audience will walk away angry."

The Navaratri festival celebration at Wesleyan continues through October 5 with musical performances, lectures and dance workshops.