World Music Series

Cosmas & Beauler and African Alchemies

This concert is presented in association with the Music and Globalization Conference.

Cosmas Magaya and Beauler Dyoko represent the respected elder generation of mbira players in Zimbabwe today. Their powerful playing and singing taps the deep spiritual and cultural roots of this music, and the authentic ancient beauty of the traditional songs of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. African Alchemies, an Eastman-based ensemble, presents traditional African music and new compositions, performed on Western instruments played with traditional African techniques.

Jugalbandhi
Kartik Seshadri, sitar;
Rajeev Taranath, sarod; with Arup Chattopadhyay, tabla

Jugalbandhi refers to a performance of Indian classical music featuring two musicians on equal footing, neither leading nor subordinate. The style gained world-wide attention through performances by Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan. Eastman is pleased to feature that duo’s pre-eminent disciples for a rare evening of virtuoso music from India.

Maskanda Guitar of South Africa: Shiyani Ngcobo

Shiyani Ngcobo is an acknowledged master of maskanda, a musical style with deep Zulu roots. Little heard outside of South Africa, maskanda is dance music with nimble, unstoppable grooves. It was created in the early 20th century by Zulu workers migrating between rural homes and jobs in cities. Mr. Ngcobo plays either guitar or igogo — guitar made by hand from an oil can, wood, and wire — and presents his music with a five-member ensemble (concertina, hand drum, electric bass, two background vocalists/ dancers).

Eastman’s Gamelan Lila Muni

Founded at Eastman in 1993, Gamelan Lila Muni (Heavenly Sound) is a Balinese percussion ensemble based at the Eastman School of Music. The ensemble is comprised of Eastman students, faculty, and staff, and members of the Rochester community. Its annual concert combines traditional and contemporary music and ceremonial dances.