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Mickey Hart and Bembé Orisha
World Rock Fusion — USA
Mickey Hart, drummer for The Grateful Dead, leads a
multi-national band called Bembé Orisha or "party
of the spirits" in the Yoruban language. Drawing
from soul music of the U.S., Cuba, the Arab world and
beyond, the band includes vocalist Bobi Cespedes and
percussionist Nengue Hernandez of Cuba and Sikiru Adepoju
from Nigeria.
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The
Whirling Dervishes of Damascus and Al-Kindi Ensemble
Program change
Los Angeles, 16 September 2002-The World Festival of
Sacred Music-Los Angeles announces that acclaimed Syrian
music ensemble-the Whirling Dervishes of Damascus-has
abruptly canceled its concert appearance in the United
States due to new visa policies after 9/11. In response
to this disappointment, a powerful consortium of Middle
Eastern artists (who are participating in the festival
at other events) have agreed to appear in the Closing
Concert. Joined in spirit and in response to world events,
the group will include Mamak Khadem and Loga
Ramin Torkian of Axiom of Choice, Ahmad
El Asmar, Omar Faruk Tekbilek and Yuval
Ron.
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Çudamani
Gamelan Orchestra — Bali
In the Balinese village of Pengosekan, across the street
from the village temple, is a family compound that is
the home to Çudamani. This thirty-member company,
under the direction of I Dewa Putu Berata, plays the
magnificent bronze gongs and xylophones known as gamelan.
Renowned for their many contemporary resident composers,
Cudamani also preserves and performs ancient and rare
forms of Balinese gamelan and dance. For this, their
first American tour, they bring music and dance never
before performed in the West, including a revival of
a seldom seen classical Legong dance.
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Lifou
Island Dance Theater
Melanesian Dance and Music Ensemble — New Caledonia
From the remote Melanesian Island of Lifou, comes a
sixteen-member group is a testament to the creative
genius of South Pacific culture. Fiercely pounding the
earth as if to awaken the spirits, the dancers are adorned
in garments made from native plants and their dramatic
make-up evokes the animal world. Astonishingly, their
Kanak chanting is laced with European harmonies. Lifou
Island Dance Theater wasinternationally acclaimed at
the 2000 Pacific Island Festival of the Arts and now
makes their first American appearance. This tour is
made possible with the support of the French Ministry
of Culture.
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Agape
International Choir
Contemporary Spiritual Music — USA
The Agape International Choir is one of Los Angeles'
most celebrated choral ensembles. Performing original
works composed by Reverend Dr. Michael Beckwith and
Dr. Rickie Byars-Beckwith, this seventy-five member
multi-ethnic choir are members of the Agape International
Center of Truth spiritual community. Their music enraptures
us with its radical energy, rich signature harmonies,
devotional power, and love of God. From the delicate
sounds of an a cappella prayer to the foot stomping
rhythms of popular American music Agape sings in honor
of all religions and faiths.
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Fo
Guang Shan Buddhist Monastic Choir
Buddhist Religious Chanting — Taiwan
In Buddhism, music has the ability to lift our minds
to a sublime state and inspire religious devotion. Gathering
together to chant the sutras and sacred texts, forty
monastics of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Monastic Choir
from Taiwan make a ceremonial offering of music to the
Buddha in the hope for world peace. Their music soften
our hearts so we can be receptive, instill compassion
and awaken the goodness that is in us all.
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An
outdoor event —
dress accordingly.
All proceeds for this event
will support the World Festival of Sacred Music—Los
Angeles.
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