Initiated in spring of 2010, this series of free outdoor world music concerts, reflects a collaboration between the Arts Council of the Morris Area and Mayo Performing Arts Center, with the rainsite graciously provided by Morristown United Methodist Church (50 Park Place on the Green).
Check out the June 19th Daily Record and June 21st Morristown PATCH feature articles on the series.
FOR 2011, the program is as follows:
 |
|
Wednesdays, June 22, July 6, July 20 and August 3 at 12 pm Featuring music from India, China, Colombia and the Balkans The Mayo Performing Arts Center, the Arts Council of the Morris Area and the United Methodist Church present their second annual Music Without Borders free summer outdoor lunchtime concert series on the Morristown Green. The series begins June 22 and runs every other Wednesday through August 3. Concerts run from 12 pm – 1:30 pm. Music Without Borders series is sponsored by Novartis. Each Music Without Borders concert will feature a performance of world music reflecting the diverse culture and population of the area. Brown bag a meal, stop by while walking your dog and experience a world music celebration while getting to know your neighbors. (In case of rain, concerts will be held indoors at the Morristown United Methodist Church except for July 6th when the concert will be cancelled in the event of rain). |
 |
CHIA’S DANCE PARTY (Colombian music) |
| Check out the June 23nd video by MorristownGreen.com and the June 22nd video by MorristownPatch for a glimpse of the performance by Chia’s Dance Party…including dancing in the street! | |
 |
CHALGIYA (Balkan music) WED., JULY 6, 2011 AT 12 PM Chalgiya plays music from the Balkans – specifically Macedonia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Albania. This classic trio instrumentation of clarinet or saxophone, accordion, and traditional drums (tapan or darabouka) brings both the spirit of village dances and the flavor of urban cafe music. Chalgiya means “orchestra” in Turkish, and refers to the urban songs and sounds found in Balkan cafes and nightclubs in much of the 20th century. The trio is comprised of musicians at the heart of the booming Balkan scene in NYC: Greg Squared (Ansambl Mastika, Veveritse Brass Band) on woodwinds, Matthew Fass (Raya Brass Band) on accordion, and Matt Moran (Slavic Soul Party!) on percussion. |
| Missed the concert? See YouTube video of dancing on the Green to Chalgiya.Check out coverage by MorristownGreen.com and MorristownPATCH as well. | |
 |
MUSIC FROM CHINA TRIO WED., JULY 20, 2011 AT 12 PM This trio from the NY-based ensemble Music from China, showcases Wang Guowei, renowned master of the erhu (a 2-string fiddle with snakeskin resonator), who will be performing with Wang Junling on zheng (21 string zither with movable bridges) and Susan Cheng on the yangqin (hammered dulcimer). Music from China was founded in 1984 by Director Susan Cheng and is under the artistic direction of Wang Guowei. What began as a mission to introduce audiences ot the best of Chinese musical cultural evolved into an affinity for the eclectic that embraces both traditional and new music. In fact, members of this ensemble have performed widely, including with major symphony orchestras, chamber groups and with such jazz greats as Ornette Coleman and Anthony Braxton. Today, they will present a hauntingly lovely program featuring classical and folk arrangements that evoke the sonorities of age-old musical traditions and interpret the music of today.www.musicfromchina.org |
 |
INDIA: SOUNDS OF THE NORTH, BELLS OF THE SOUTH WED., AUGUST 3, 2011 AT 12 PM Music: Known for its intricacy, richness and variety, Indian music matches every occasion, reason and season. This presentation celebrates the onset of “SAAWAN”, the rainy season, which brings joy and relief after a harsh summer and hence is eagerly awaited and celebrated with music and dance. Showcasing India’s classical, devotional and folk genres, these compositions describe the beautiful mood created by the dark clouds, cool breezes and gentle showers and the atmosphere of joy and festivity felt by one and all. The program features Ms. Astha Shukla a vocalist specializing in Hindustani Classical, semi- classical and light music. Ms. Shukla is an active concert artist and the founder of the SwarVeena School of Music in New Jersey. |
| Dance: Shubanjali’s award-winning artistic director and founder of both the dance school and company of the same name, Suba Ramesh Parmar, has been honored by the government of India, Union County and the State of NJ for her outstanding contributions to the art of Indian classical and folk dance. At Music Without Borders, she will showcase the intricate traditions of temple dancers of India, accompanied by Ms. Madhumita Parmar and a team of dancers from Shubanjali. Highlights of the program will be a breathtaking Cosmic Dance of Lord Shiva, Tales of Krishna, a devotional Meera Bhajana, Tillana and the spectacular Peacock Dance. |
The 2010 season included:
On June 15, the public enjoyed hearing West African music with the Fula Flute Trio, performing on balafon (African xylophone), kora and tambin (African flute). The group performed a special preview concert when Carnegie Hall’s new Zankel Hall opened in 2003 and has continued to earn critical acclaim for its outstanding work. Click here to see video.
Fula Flute Trio on the Green
On June 29, the festive mood led to limbo dancing, singing and even a conga line in response to the infectiously cheerful Caribbean music of The Conroy Warren Duo, which showcased Patrick Gomes on steel pan and Antiguan native guitarist, Conroy Warren, who graduated from the Berklee School of Music in Boston, and has performed internationally with some of the top names in Caribbean music.
On July 13, Latin dancing erupted spontaneously in the lobby of the Community Theatre, thanks to the compelling rhythms of Los Ciegos Del Barrio, a multi-genre Latin band featuring keyboard, Latin percussion and voice. The Blind Boys of the Neighborhood (the band members are all legally blind) performed Merengue, Bachata, Salsa, Cumbia, Reggaeton and Rock in both English and Spanish. They have enjoyed major hits, and were featured on Sound in Sight Volume 1, a compilation sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind which features different blind artists from around the USA. Click here to see video.
Closing out the series on July 27, the public thrilled to the powerful, athletic taiko drumming, the piercing sounds of the fue flute and the antics of the mime/dancer of Taikoza, a Japanese music ensemble which has performed in such venues as Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Symphony Space and Lincoln Center as well as sold-out houses in Russia and Europe. Click here to see video.