Demonstration Stage
Our smaller "acoustic" demonstration stage offers a glimpse into some of the wonderful musical and cultural diversity that can be found right here in New Mexico! Thanks to Natalie Kreutzer for searching out these entertaining and educational performances.
Saturday
| Time | Session | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 AM | Mbira Music from Zimbabwe | Tendai Muparutsa | Zimbabwe has one of the richest mbira traditions of Sub-Saharan Africa. The metal-keyed instrument is used for religious rituals, for secular entertainment and, according to legend, for warfare. Mbira songs were a major force in uniting the people in the liberation war that culminated in Rhodesia becoming the free country of Zimbabwe in 1980. Often accompanied by hosho (shaker) rhythmic patterns, the music invites people to dance. Tendai Muparutsa is a native of Mutare, Zimbabwe. He has degrees in music from the Zimbabwe College of Music and the University of Zimbabwe. He was a teacher in Gweru before coming to the University of Idaho as a fellow in 2006 to teach and study with Natalie Kreutzer. While working on his Master of Music Education degree, he coached student and community marimba ensembles and formed his own marimba group Chiroto, several times headline performers at Zimfest, the festival of Zimbabwe music held in the Pacific Northwest. He is currently a Ph.D. student in ethnomusicology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. He conducts workshops in Zimbabwe instrumental and vocal music and dance across both the U.S. and Canada. |
| 11:00 AM | Scandinavian Old Time | Muggies Uff Da Band | Scandinavian immigrant old time dance music from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Washington state. Instruments are fiddle, accordian, guitar, string bass, and guitar. |
| 12:00 PM | Harmonic Throat Singing | Timothy Hill | Harmonic singing, originating with Tuvan throat singing, is a way of singing and listening with acute attention to the overtone spectrum of the voice, producing a sound at once otherworldly and deeply human. Harmonic singing deepens and enhances the natural voice, giving singers a direct experience of the physical laws of sound, powerful insight into the nature of harmony and a glimpse at the roots of human language and song. |
| 1:00 PM | Haitian Dance | Racine Kreyol Drum and Dance Ensemble | Racine Kreyol Drum and Dance Ensemble is a group of Haitian artists dedicated to educating the Albuquerque community about the rich tapestry of Haitian culture. The group offers classes in Traditional Haitian drum and dance. In addition to their regular classes, they have taught special workshops and performed at events such as the Albuquerque State Fair, Balloon Fiesta, the Obama Inaugural Bash and a host of others. |
| 2:00 PM | Thai Classical Dance | Wat Buddhamongkolnimit Sunday School (WBSS) | Our Thai Classical Dance Group will be lead by two young volunteer dance teachers, Miss Saisunee Phasukkeelee and Miss Wipaporn Fungsirikul from Kampaengpetch, Thailand and followed by Thai dance students from Wat Buddhamongkolnimit Sunday School (WBSS) at 320 Louisiana, Blvd., SE, Albuquerque, NM, 87108 (Corner of Louisiana and Zuni). The music will be performed by Thai Classical Music Students. Instruments will be Thai Hammer Dulcimers. |
| 3:00 PM | Mbira Music from Zimbabwe | Tendai Muparutsa | Zimbabwe has one of the richest mbira traditions of Sub-Saharan Africa. The metal-keyed instrument is used for religious rituals, for secular entertainment and, according to legend, for warfare. Mbira songs were a major force in uniting the people in the liberation war that culminated in Rhodesia becoming the free country of Zimbabwe in 1980. Often accompanied by hosho (shaker) rhythmic patterns, the music invites people to dance. Tendai Muparutsa is a native of Mutare, Zimbabwe. He has degrees in music from the Zimbabwe College of Music and the University of Zimbabwe. He was a teacher in Gweru before coming to the University of Idaho as a fellow in 2006 to teach and study with Natalie Kreutzer. While working on his Master of Music Education degree, he coached student and community marimba ensembles and formed his own marimba group Chiroto, several times headline performers at Zimfest, the festival of Zimbabwe music held in the Pacific Northwest. He is currently a Ph.D. student in ethnomusicology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. He conducts workshops in Zimbabwe instrumental and vocal music and dance across both the U.S. and Canada. |
| 4:00 PM | Special Orchestra | Special Orchestra | These musicians ARE Special, and give their gift of music filled with heart-felt enthusiasm! This is their fourth appearance on the Demo Stage; it is a pleasure to share them again here with you. |
| 5:00 PM | Instrument Petting Zoo Show and Tell | Todd Crowley | Zoomaster Todd Crowley will demonstrate a selection of instruments from the Petting Zoo. |
| 6:00 PM | Balkan Singalong | Fishtank Ensemble | The LA Weekly calls them "cross pollinated gypsy music….one of the most thrilling young acts on the planet." Formed in 2005 and playing everywhere from the hippest LA clubs to festivals, cultural centers, museums, parades, and even on the street, the band includes two explosive violins, the world's best slap bass player, musical saw, flamenco and gypsy jazz guitar, trombone, opera, jazz and gypsy vocals, accordion and one little banjolele. Tackling everything from French hot jazz to wild Serbian and Transylvanian gypsy anthems, Flamenco, and oddball originals, the band is a not to be missed event for world music lovers...and everyone will love this intoxicating mix of music!! Fabrice Martinez is a gifted fiddler whose travels throughout Europe in a handbuilt, mule-drawn caravan brought him in contact with the master Rom musicians who inspired his signature wild and virtuoso style. While his special love is Romanian folk music, he also plays Gypsy, Hungarian, Swedish, and many other kinds of music. Ursula Knudson is an operatically trained, well-traveled tri-lingual violinist and musical saw player, known for an uncanny ability to switch musical styles and timbres with her voice from one song to the next. Self-taught on the saw, she won 2nd place in the 2004 International Saw Festival. She sings beautifully in Romanian, French, Japanese, and English. Douglas Smolens, aka "el douje," is an accomplished Flamenco guitarist, whose album Worlds Collide is a unique and bold mixture of traditional and modern styles, from 'jondo' flamenco to modern day world fusion/drum and bass/techno. Djordje Stijepovic, formerly a member of leading world music bands in Serbia, also performs solo, provides his signature slap bass for rockabilly band Atomic Sunset, and plays with many well known musicians. |
| 7:00 PM | Cuban Salsa Rueda | Santa Rueda Dance Team and Friends | Salsa Rueda was born in Cuba and transported to the USA and the rest of the world by Cuban immigrants. This form of dancing salsa is practiced in every major and medium size USA city. Most of the performers in this group started from zero experience to advance and master level. Salsa rueda dancing can achieve a high level of sophistication, fun and beauty. |