Two upcoming concerts at UP College of Music
West African Music and Dance at the UP College of Music, August 20
The University of the Philippines College of Music Department of Musicology presents A Concert on West African Music and Dance by the UP Kekeli Ensemble led by percussionist and professor Dr. Royal Hartigan. The concert will be held at the UP College of Music Abelardo Hall Auditorium this August 20, 2010 Friday at 7:00PM. Members of the UP Kekeli African Drumming and Dancing Ensemble are Tusa Montes, Jenny de Vera, Toni Bernardo, Jinggoy Balane, Rodel Celestial, Patricia Rodriguez, Catherine Cheng, Catherine Grace de Leon, Frederick Ruiz, Gideon Amaca, Roan Opiso, Isobelle Primero, Valerie Vibar and Thristan Mendoza.
The UP Kekeli African Drum and Dance ensemble performs the traditional music, dance, and songs of West Africa, including the traditions of the Asante, Ewe, Dagbamba, Dagara, and Ga peoples. Members of the group visited Ghana to study and perform Asante Kete and were invited to perform to the Asantehene’s (paramount chief of the Asante people) palace near Kumasi last June 2010.
In Africa, drum ensembles usually perform only when led by a master drummer from the culture, but the UP group has been given permission by the Asantehene to be led Dr. Hartigan who teaches ethnomusicology and world music at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
The UP Kekeli Ensemble is believed to be the first ensemble of its kind in Asia. Dr. Hartigan is currently visiting scholar-performer at the UP College of Music. His scholarly background is equally matched by his expertise on performing non-western rhythms and improvisations.
Admission to the concert is free.
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Percussionist Royal Hartigan performs with Diwa Jazz Ensemble at UP College of Music, August 25
The University of the Philippines College of Music presents a concert by the Diwa Jazz Ensemble led by world renowned percussionist Dr. Royal Hartigan. The concert will be held at the UP College of Music Abelardo Hall Auditorium this August 25, 2010 Wednesday at 7:00PM. Admission is free.
The Diwa Jazz Ensemble will be performing “A Love Supreme suite” and “Naima” by John Coltrane, “Oleo” by Sonny Rollins, “Jitterbug Waltz” by Fats Waller, and a classic ballad titled “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” with arrangements by Dr. Hartigan. Members are Tots Tolentino and Joey de Guzman on saxophones, Skarlet on vocals, Joey Quirino on piano, Simon Tan on contrabass, and Royal Hartigan on drums.
Dr. Hartigan teaches ethnomusicology and world music at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and is currently visiting scholar-performer at the UP College of Music, Department of Musicology. His scholarly background is matched equally by his expertise on performing non-western rhythms that include improvisatory jazz. His arrangements in the concerts will thus showcase a thinking about musical connections, offering a window into world’s music cultures and as an alternative to the homogenization of music in the marketplace.
Journal of Philippine Music 