FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media contact: David Jordan Harris 651.227.2583

WHO: Voices of Sepharad, Nirmala Rajasekar, David Jordan Harris WHAT: Song of Wonder WHERE: Rochester Civic Theatre (20 Civic Center Drive SE, Rochester) WHEN: Saturday, March 5, 7 pm PRICES: $22 general admission; group discount available; children under 12 admitted free BOX OFFICE: (507) 282-8481

“Song of Wonder” Concert reaches across Indian and Sephardic Jewish musical traditions

Minneapolis, MN (January 12, 2016)—In a world where unfamiliar beliefs and musical expressions are seen as strange and unapproachable, two Minnesota-based musicians are using their traditional art forms to find common ground and promote understanding. Nirmala Rajasekar and David Jordan Harris have co-created Song of Wonder, a concert of music which explores the theme of wonder through the music, folktales, and poetry of South Indian and Judeo-Spanish traditions.

Inspired by the rich, imagistic poetry and evocative music of more than a thousand years in each tradition, the concert probes the many facets of wonder as gateways to an illumined and impassioned life. Nirmala and David are joined by a trio of distinguished instrumentalists: Carnatic percussion master Thanjavur Muruga Boopathi, percussionist Mick LaBriola, and ‘ud player David Burk.

Highlights of Song of Wonder include excerpts from the oldest extant piece of notated Jewish music; improvisational performances by Nirmala on the veena in both familiar and rare ragas (the melodic soundscapes of Indian music); ancient Tamil Sangam poetry; plangent Judeo-Spanish and Hebrew chants from traditional Jewish communities in Bosnia, Turkey, and Morocco; and new musical arrangements flowing from the cross-cultural collaboration.

While each of these musical traditions has emerged from its own particular historical circumstances and speak in its own musical vocabulary, the artists aim to open a door for audiences into their cultures through the language of music. Song of Wonder commits itself to the spirit of creativity in order to create new relationships and deeper understanding among its musicians and audiences as well as to inspire new compositional fusions which might excite and enlighten 21st century audiences.

Sephardic culture originated over twelve centuries ago in Spain. Its legacy of brilliance in poetry, the sciences, translation, and philosophy grew out of a fruitful symbiosis with Muslim Spanish culture. Following the fall of Moorish rule in 1492, the Spanish Jews (called Sephardim) were sent into exile under the terms of Ferdinand and Isabella's notorious Edict of Expulsion. The Judeo-Spanish exiles settled throughout the Mediterranean region and beyond, wherever the Ottoman Empire extended, bringing with them their own dialect of Spanish (still spoken to this day). Throughout the centuries that followed, the Sephardic Jews continued to adapt themselves to new environments while maintaining a strong sense of self-identity.

Carnatic music is the classical musical tradition with roots in Southern India that is said to be over 2000 years old. It is a dynamic musical form with strong classical grammar that is passed generation to generation via the oral tradition. As with any ancient tradition, the music itself has been shaped by the history of the region’s incidents and the geography of the land. Its origins and development over the years is in itself a fascinating study. The main languages seen in the compositions are Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. Ragas (melodic modes) and thalas (rhythm cycles and patterns) are at the core of this system which has absorbed many folk melodies into the form over time. The veena and mridangam (seen and heard in Song of Wonder) are two of the oldest instruments in this musical system, the instruments being as old as the musical form.

Nirmala Rajasekar is a world-renowned Carnatic vainika (veena player), vocalist, and educator of South Indian Music. She has performed in venues throughout the world, including Carnegie Hall (New York), the United Nations (New York), Music Academy (Chennai), Musee Rietburg (Zurich), Mulgrave (Melbourne), and Chembur Fine Arts (Bombay). Nirmala is a recipient of many awards, including a Bush Artistic fellowship, McKnight fellowship, Rotary Vocational Excellence award, and Naadha Kala Vipanchee. She is a disciple of veteran veena Guru Prof. Kalapakam Swaminathan and has had vocal mentoring under Prof. Sitarama Sarma and Prof. T. R Subramaniam. For more than three decades she has become one of the veena’s best practitioners, performing it with utmost dedication, passion, and a deep love for the art. Nirmala is the founder and director of the Naadha Rasa Center for Music and is its artistic director. www.nirmalarajasekar.com

David Jordan Harris is co-founder and Artistic Director of Voices of Sepharad. He has pursued study and performance of Sephardic music throughout North America, Morocco, Greece, France, Israel, Turkey, Poland, Bosnia, and Spain. Integrating his skills as a singer, actor, and dancer, David has appeared as guest artist with Zorongo Flamenco, Katha Dance Theatre, Corning Dances and Company, Walker Art Center, Illusion Theater, Rose Ensemble, North Star Opera, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, Guthrie Theater, Minnesota Opera, Lyra Baroque Orchestra, Ensemble Espan᷉ol, and In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. David has co-authored four plays and composed music for the film Romania 1941/Rwanda 1994. He is Executive Director of Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council and interfaith arts special consultant for the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning. www.voicesofsepharad.com

Thanjavur Murugaboopathi (or Boopathi, as he is popularly known) is one of the best-known percussionists from the world of South Indian Carnatic music. He has been featured with veteran performers from India including vocal legends Dr. Balamuralikrishna, TV Shankaranarayanan, TN Seshagoplan, flutist Dr. N. Ramani, saxaphone artist Kadri Goplanath, violinist Kanyakumari, and vainika Gayathri. He is on the circuit all over the world with stars of the current generation such as Sudha Raghunathan, Sanjay Subramanyam (vocalists), U. Srinivas (mandolin), Shashank (flute), Ganesh Kumaresh (violin) Nirmala Rajasekar (veena), and Gaurav Mazumdar (sitar). Boopathi has performed on several stages across the globe including ABC Australia, Rumi International Konya Festival Turkey, Théâtre de la Ville in Paris, the Royal Albert Hall in London, United Nations in NYC, and on PBS. Mick LaBriola is a free lance performer/percussionist, cultural music specialist, educator, residency artist, dance-theater accompanist, technical adviser, logistics coordinator, and stage manager. In addition, he is a roster artist with the Minnesota State Arts Board, Compas, and the Nevada Arts Council. Mick is Music Director for the Oregon Renaissance Festival, Cue Director of the Mayday Ceremony with HOBT, and bandleader for Positive Vibrations, the Maroons, Karibuni, Maqam and founding member of Ancestor Energy, Voices of Sepharad, Beau Koo Jacks & Mojo Roots. www.micklabriola.com

David Burk, playing stringed instruments of many traditions, has performed with numerous musical artists, including the Rose Ensemble, Vanessa Paloma, Yair Dalal, Josh Nelson, Yair Harel, Lau Hawaiian Collective, Georges Lammam Arabic Orchestra, Persian icon Sattar, and Voices of Sepharad (since 1998). His compositions have been used in commercials, movies and television programs worldwide. He arranged a Latin-themed version of the music for “The Pajama Game” for Mixed Blood Theatre.

Song of Wonder is on tour throughout Minnesota in 2015-16 through the Arts Tour Minnesota program of the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. The original production was commissioned by the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning at the University of St. Thomas.

###