UCLA Ethnomusicology Department announces events for spring 2013

[Correction: Several event times and locations have been updated for the Mariachi de Uclatlán 50th Anniversary on May 26, and a contact number has been changed. Please see the highlighted changes below.]

The Department of Ethnomusicology at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music offers a series of events for the public's enjoyment throughout the spring quarter, including performances and academic lectures.

For updated information and confirmation of events, visit www.schoolofmusic.ucla.edu or call 310-825-8381.

For events at UCLA's Schoenberg Music Building, all-day parking ($11) and short-term parking (payable at pay stations) are available in Parking Structure 2 (enter the campus at Hilgard and Westholme avenues).

FREE CONCERTS AND EVENTS

Monday, April 29

A Celebration Honoring the Music of Ellingtonia and the Many Contributions of Duke Ellington, 20th-Century Master

Schoenberg Hall, Schoenberg Music Building

Lecture, panel and concert are free (see details below)

This special event honors the late Duke Ellington and the body of work known as "Ellingtonia" on what would have been the composer, pianist and big-band leader's 104th birthday. It also celebrates 35 years of the UCLA course "Ellingtonia," the first regular college course on Ellington in the United States and the world, created and taught by professor Kenny Burrell.

The concert will feature performances by the Ellingtonia Orchestra, directed by Kenny Burrell; the UCLA Jazz Orchestra, directed by Charley Harrison; the UCLA LatinJazz Big Band, directed by Dr. Bobby Rodriguez; and special guest artists John Clayton (bass), Jeff Clayton (sax), Ernie Andrews (vocals) and Chester Whitmore (dance).

Schedule of the day's events:

1:30–2:30 p.m.

Lecture by Kenny Burrell, UCLA distinguished professor of music and musicology

3–4:30 p.m.

Panel discussion with special musical artists and scholars

5–6:30 p.m.

Reception

7 p.m.

Concert

This event is presented by the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies, the Friends of Jazz at UCLA, the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, and the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology.

Due to space limitations for the 7 p.m. concert, seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Free tickets will be issued beginning at 6 p.m. For information about the reception, please call 310-206-6468 or email events@arts.ucla.edu.

Spring Festival of World Music and Jazz

This concert series, which runs from May 17 to 19 and from May 31 to June 4, will feature performances by UCLA's wide array of world music ensembles, plus UCLA jazz combos, the UCLA Jazz Orchestra, the UCLA LatinJazz Big Band and the Ellingtonia Orchestra. All performances will take place in Schoenberg Hall and are free and open to the public.

Friday, May 17

7 p.m.

African American Ensemble

James Roberson, director

Music of México Ensemble

Jesús Guzmán, director

The African American Music Ensemble performs a diverse mix of gospel music, including Negro spirituals and traditional and contemporary gospel. Beginning in the 1600s with enslaved Africans, African American choral music has evolved into a refined urban form accompanied by piano, drum, bass and tambourine.

The Music of México Ensemble, under the direction of 2009 Grammy winner Jesús Guzmán, features mariachi music in a variety of styles from various regions of Mexico, including son jalisiense, son huasteco, bolero, ranchera and huapango.

Saturday, May 18

7 p.m.

Music of India Ensemble

Rahul Neuman and Abhiman Kaushal, co-directors

Music of Bali Ensemble

I Nyoman Wenten, director

The Music of India Ensemble performs short compositions of North Indian classical and semi-classical ragas (harmonic modes) and talas (rhythmic patterns on tabla or drums). The ensemble is made up of the students of Rahul Neuman on sitar (a long-necked lute with seven principal strings, plus 12 to 20 sympathetic strings) and the students of Abhiman Kaushal on tabla.

The Music of Bali Ensemble features gamelan music (the generic Indonesian word for orchestra) and dance. The Balinese gamelan gong kebyar is famous for its fast tempos, abrupt changes of texture and brilliantly costumed dancers who act out stories from the Hindu Ramayana.

Sunday, May 19

7 p.m.

Music of the Balkans Ensemble

Ivan and Tzvetanka Varimezova, co-directors

Charles Mingus Ensemble

James Newton, director

The Music of the Balkans Ensemble focuses on Bulgarian traditional songs and music. The ensemble also includes a women's choir that performs a capella arrangements of folk songs in two- and three-part harmony.

The goal of the Charles Mingus Ensemble is to provide a workshop environment where students from the jazz, world and classical disciplines can learn to successfully integrate compositional and improvisational musical traditions. Mingus' indelible footprint as a bandleader–composer–bassist was further enhanced when he developed a platform to advance many of his ideas through his ensemble, the Jazz Workshop. The ensemble utilizes many of Mingus' musical approaches to develop interpretations of his compositions and those of other great jazz composers, along with compositions outside of the jazz canon. The ensemble employs improvisational styles within and outside of common jazz performance practice. Student compositions and arrangements may also be featured in the concert.

Friday, May 31

7 p.m.

Near East Ensemble

A. J. Racy, director

Music of China Ensemble

Chi Li, director

The Near East Ensemble presents music and instruments from the Arab world. Its repertoire includes old court music genres from the Ottoman era, mystical works related to the Sufi Islamic sect, modal and drum improvisations, nightclub pieces, and songs from rural folk celebrations.

The Music of China Ensemble performs arias from Kun opera of the 16th century, "silk-and-bamboo" music (played on string and wind instruments) from the Shanghai area, folk dances for festive celebration, zheng zither music in the Keijia style from Canton Province, music for large percussion ensemble, and modern compositions for traditional Chinese wind and string ensembles.

Saturday, June 1

7 p.m.

Music of Korea Ensemble

DongSuk Kim, director

The Music of Korea Ensemble presents a variety of styles of court and folk music and dance traditions.

Sunday, June 2

7 p.m.

Music and Dance of West Africa Ensemble

Kobla Ladzekpo, director

Bluegrass and Old-Time String Ensemble

Timothy Taylor, director; Scott Linford, assistant director

The Music and Dance of West Africa Ensemble performs the music and dances of the Ewe people of Ghana and Togo, the Fon people of Benin, and the Ashanti people of Ghana. The ensemble produces complex polyphonic textures on a variety of drums, bells and rattles to accompany dramatic and entertaining social dances.

The Bluegrass and Old-Time String Ensemble performs traditional music of America, with a focus on instrumental music of the American South.

Monday, June 3

7 p.m.

UCLA Jazz Combos

This show features UCLA jazz combos directed by George Bohanon, Kenny Burrell, Clayton Cameron, Charley Harrison, Charles Owens and Michele Weir, with special guests, the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance Ensemble.

Tuesday, June 4

7 p.m.

UCLA Big Bands

This concert will feature the UCLA Jazz Orchestra, directed by Charley Harrison; the UCLA LatinJazz Big Band, directed by Dr. Bobby Rodriguez; and the Ellingtonia Orchestra, directed by Kenny Burrell.

Sunday, May 26

Mariachi de Uclatlán 50th Anniversary

Schoenberg Music Building

The Department of Ethnomusicology at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music presents the 50th anniversary celebration of Mariachi de Uclatlán. Mariachi de Uclatlán began in the 1960s, making it one of the first mariachi groups to be formed in an academic university setting. During this time, the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology granted academic space for ethnomusicologists who researched jarocho and mariachi music to form a mariachi ensemble. The group developed as a way to explore the Mexican culture outside the borders of Mexico.

The current Mariachi de Uclatlán was revived in 2006 through the collaborative efforts of Mary Alfaro, Lauryn Salazar and Leticia Soto. The three teamed up with other talented mariachi musicians at UCLA to restore the campus group.

Guest speakers at this event will include Daniel Sheehy, director of the Smithsonian Folkways and the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage; Mark Fogelquist, mariachi educator; Jonathan Clark, mariachi historian; and Russell Rodriguez, mariachi historian.

Schedule of the day's events:

1 p.m.

Registration (Schoenberg lobby)

1:30 p.m.

Academic panels (Room 1345)

2:45 p.m.

Roundtable discussion (Room 1345)

4:30 p.m.

Keynote lecture (Schoenberg Hall)

5–7 p.m.

Concert (Schoenberg Hall)

The event is free, but due to space limitations, registration is required at EventBrite. Further information is available at the Mariachi de Uclatlán's Facebook page.

MOHINDAR BRAR SAMBHI LECTURE SERIES

The Mohindar Brar Sambhi Lecture Series focuses on Indian music and other issues important in the field of ethnomusicology. Lectures are free and open to the public.

Wednesday, April 3

1–3 p.m.

Max Katz:

'Counternaratives of Hindustani Music History: Perspectives from the Lucknow Gharana'