Arts Education

Ladysmith Black Mambazo About

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020 Ladysmith Black Mambazo is one of the themselves as the most successful 11AM | Jackson Hall world’s most popular a cappella vocal singing group in . In the ensembles. In this show, the group draws mid-1980s, the American singer/ Recommended for grades K–12 from its album Songs of PEACE & LOVE songwriter famously visited for Kids & Parents Around the World, South Africa and incorporated the which was nominated for Best Children’s group’s rich tenor/alto/bass harmonies Visual & Performing Arts Standards Album at the 2017 Grammy Awards. into his famous Graceland album—a The newly revised California Arts Standards Expect songs like “Love Your Neighbor,” landmark recording that was considered provide guidance toward a common goal: “Everything’s So Stupid!” and “Old seminal in introducing to for all California students to fully participate MacDonald Zulu Style” as Ladysmith mainstream audiences. A year later, in a rich and well-rounded arts education. Black Mambazo enchants with uplifting Simon produced Ladysmith Black The standards are based on the artistic harmonies and plenty of laughter, too. Mambazo’s first worldwide release, processes of creating; performing/ Shaka Zulu, which garnered the group producing/presenting; responding; and South Africa’s Ladysmith Black their first Grammy Award, in 1988, for connecting. Our school matinees correspond Mambazo was assembled in the early Best Folk Recording. Since then the to responding and connecting. 1960s by Joseph , then a young group has been awarded three more K-Adv.MU:Re7.1; K-5.MU:Re7.2; 6-8.MU:Re7.2.a; farm boy turned factory worker. He Grammy Awards. 6-8.MU:Re7.2.b; K-8.MU:Re8; K-8.MU:Re9; took the name Ladysmith from his K-8.MU:Cn10; K-8.MU:Cn11; Nov-Adv.MU:H. hometown, which lies in the province of In addition to their work with Paul Re8; Nov-Adv.MU:H.Re9; Nov-Adv.MU:H.Cn10; kwaZulu Natal, halfway between the city Simon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo Nov-Adv.MU:H.Cn11; Nov-Adv.MU:E.Re7.1; of (where members of the group has recorded with numerous artists Nov-Adv.MU:E.Re7.2; Nov-Adv.MU:E.Re8; live today) and . The word from around the world and provided Nov-Adv.MU:E.Re9; Nov-Adv.MU:E.Cn10; Black being a reference to the oxen, the soundtrack material for several films Nov-Adv.MU:E.Cn11 strongest of all farm animals, Joseph’s including Disney’s The Lion King II: way of honoring his early life on his Simba’s Pride. Common Core family’s farm. Mambazo is the Zulu word The Common Core broadens the definition for chopping axe, a symbol of the group’s A favorite of the late , of a “text,” viewing performance as a form vocal strength, clearing the way for their Ladysmith Black Mambazo traveled of text, so students are experiencing and music and eventual success. with the future South African president interacting with a text when they attend when he went to Norway to receive the a performance. Seeing live performance The group borrows heavily from a Nobel Peace Prize. One year later they provides rich opportunities to write traditional music called were singing at the inauguration of the reflections, narratives, arguments, etc. (is-cot-a-ME-Ya), which developed in newly elected president. After many the mines of South Africa, where black more special appearances with Mandela, RL 4-12. 2; RL 4-12.3; RL.4-12.6; RL.4-12.7; workers were taken by rail to work he proclaimed the group South Africa’s RL.4-12.9; RI.4-12.2; RI.4-12.3; SL.4-12.2 far away from their homes and their Cultural Ambassadors to the World. families. Poorly housed and paid worse, the mine workers would entertain After leading the group for more than Learn More: themselves after a six-day week by 50 years, retired and passed the leadership torch to his four Ladysmith Black Mambazo website singing songs into the wee hours on (www.mambazo.com) Sunday morning. When the miners sons, all of whom joined Ladysmith Black returned to the homelands, this musical Mambazo in 1993. Singing of peace, love Songs of PEACE & LOVE for Kids & Parents tradition returned with them. and for people to live in harmony, they Around the World (www.youtube.com/ will carry the group into the future for playlist?list=PLfqHn7pfwFnzVA-YerK6ipMYEenEpSxiB) During the 1970s and early 1980s decades to come. Ladysmith Black Mambazo established Think About It MC Fun Facts: Dear Students, • The outside walls of the Mondavi Center are made from sandstone from India that is 1.8 billion ❶ Before the performance: How do you think the performers years old. will interact with one another and the audience while singing? • What look like fossils in the sandstone tiles are really iron and manganese crystal dendrites. ❷ During the performance: Are the performers interacting as you expected? How do their songs make you feel? • The building sits on 200 pillars to keep the sounds and vibrations of the freeway and trains ❸ After the performance: Do you think singing music is a from being heard or felt inside the theatre. good way to celebrate a culture? Why or why not? • The ceiling curtains in Jackson Hall weigh 2,200 pounds each.

What is expected of student audiences at the matinee: • To facilitate starting the performance on time, get a drink of water and use the restroom before entering the seating area. • Enter the auditorium quietly and take your seats immediately (note that all matinees have reserved seating). • Show courtesy to the artists and other guests at all times. • Demonstrate appreciation for the artists’ work by applauding. • Refrain from making unnecessary noise or movements. • Please eat lunch before or after the performance. Food is not allowed in the theatre. • Use information learned from the pre-matinee discussion to enhance the performance experience. • Please do not photograph or record the artists.

Please no talking during the show. Watch attentively. Show appreciation by applauding. A theatre is a charged space, full of The performers on stage show respect Applause is the best way for audience energy and anticipation. When the house for their art form and for the audience by members to share their enthusiasm lights (the lights that illuminate the doing their very best work. By watching and to show their appreciation for the audience seating) go down, the excitement attentively the audience shows respect performers. Applaud at the end of a level goes up! Theatres are designed for the performers. Appreciation can be performance! Sometimes the audience so that the voices of the singers and shown in many different ways, depending will clap during a performance, as after actors and the music of the musicians upon the art form and the culture(s) of the a featured solo. Audience members may can be heard. But this also means that people in the audience. For instance, while feel like laughing if the action on stage any sound in the audience, whispering, the audience at a dance performance may is funny, crying if the action is sad, or speaking and moving about, can be heard sit quietly, other types of performances sighing if something is seen or heard that by other audience members and by the may invite audience participation. is beautiful. performers. Distractions like these disrupt everyone’s concentration and can spoil a performance. Mondavi Center Arts Education Arts Education provides CueSheets for all performances in the Mondavi Center 2019–20 School Matinee Series. They are intended to help teachers prepare their students for the school matinee that they will attend at Mondavi Center, UC Davis. Ruth Rosenberg, director of arts education and artist engagement Jennifer Mast, arts education coordinator

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This activity is supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov. mondaviarts.org | 530.754.5431