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(10/25/00 5:29am)
Federico Garcia Lorca could be called Spain's greatest modern writer. Throughout his life, he stood for justice and the freedom of mankind. These ideals were perhaps best portrayed in his final play, "The House of Bernarda Alba." This was his last masterpiece, written in 1936. He was killed by the new fascist regime shortly afterward.\nThis powerful tale is about the freedom of women, or lack thereof, in turn-of-the century Spain. Amid the political and ideological turmoil in Spain at the time, women were not granted basic rights as human beings.\nThe story involves a tyrannical matriarch, Bernarda Alba, who defies the very laws of humanity and imprisons her daughters in her house. Decades of living in a society dominated by men and the Church has driven the femininity out of Bernarda, and if the daughters are to escape this fate, they will have to defy tradition and do what very few women have ever dared to do.\nThere is also a poignant love story in the midst of the performance. Angustias (one of the daughters) is engaged to Pepe el Romano, but matters become complicated when her sisters express romantic feelings toward him as well.\nThe play, a joint production of the Bloomington Area Arts Council and the Historic Spanish Resource Center, was directed by graduate student Nasrin Farrokh-Hekmat, a native of Iran studying opera directing. She is an accomplished director as well as a dancer and singer.\n"I like (Lorca) because his drama is poetic and his poetry is dramatic," said Farrokh.\nIn directing this play, she added several original touches to a piece that has been performed many times over the decades.\nEl Romano is not a character in the play like the rest of the actors. He is a mysterious presence who can be felt throughout the play. The play begins with Adela (one of the daughters who loves Pepe) having a dream in which the woman in her dances to music from a guitar (which could be played by Pepe himself).\nThe dancers, dressed in black with a black veil, appear in the dream at the beginning of the play and at the end of the play as part of the shocking conclusion. This was again part of Farrokh's interpretation of the play where the dancers represent the stifling forces of male-dominated tradition.\nFarrokh said she wanted everything in the play to be black and white except for Adela's green dress and her grandmother's colorful world of illusions. Adela is the only one who tries to do something about her fate instead of being resigned to it.\nMusic played a key role in the performance. It effectively expressed the feelings -- sadness and desire -- of the deprived women. Atanas Tzvetkov on the guitar and Dennis Meckler who was in charge of the electronic music did a effective job of conveying to the audience the complex emotions of these complex characters.\nDespite the limited resources available at the John Waldron Arts Center, 122 S. Walnut St., the lighting and the sound were effective. There are moments during the play when the characters freeze on stage, and death is represented in the form of women wearing black, in which lighting is well used. \nAs a whole, the play effectively recreates a turn-of-the-century Spanish atmosphere. Spanish natives who have attended the play have commended the director on her ability to recreate Lorca's world. \nThe acting is of superior quality. The standout on a list of commendable performances is undoubtedly Breshuan Birene-Joyner as the awful Bernarda Alba. Birene-Joyner brings out the harshness and lack of humanity in her character.\nFarrokh expertly recreates an atmosphere somewhere between fantasy and reality with a flawless synthesis of drama, poetry, song and dance. The play addresses basic issues about women's rights which continue to be relevant. It is not only an exquisite rendition of a truly great work, but also serves as a frightful reminder of the inhumanity that is still prevalent today.
(09/25/00 6:43am)
Downtown Bloomington was packed this weekend. The wonderful fusion of world rhythms seemed almost too good to be true. Of all the musicians that performed over the weekend, the Asian contingent (save Alim Qasimov from Azerbaijan) was perhaps the least publicized group. \nBut this didn't take anything away from the quality of traditional Asian music that was performed. Music from China, Yoko Hiraoka from Japan and Dhagha from India represented Asia in this year's Lotus Fest.\n"Music from China" is a group of Chinese musicians based in New York. While they perform music written by contemporary Chinese composers, they are known for their mastery of traditional Chinese music.\n"China has a timeless tradition in music," said Susan Cheng, one of the musicians in the group. "Some of the pieces we perform are so old that we don't even know who wrote them. A lot of our music consists of classical pieces and folk tunes that have been around for centuries." \nThe group performed Thursday for the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival celebration at Collins Center. They also performed Friday at the John Waldron Arts Center, 122 S. Walnut St., and the Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave. \nTheir sets consisted primarily of traditional pieces. While some of their music was written in the 20th century, they also performed pieces that were written more than 2,000 years ago. \nIt was a seemingly flawless blend of sounds from six traditional Chinese instruments. The erhu (a two-stringed violin), yangqin (a hammered dulcimer), dizi (bamboo flute), xiao (vertical flute), xun (clay flute) and the zheng (twenty-one stringed xither with moveable bridges) worked in perfect harmony to produce a beautiful and unique form of music.\nThe music had some obvious similarities to what the Japanese artist Yoko Hiraoka had to offer. \n"This is not surprising because hundreds of thousands of years ago Chinese musical traditions were passed down to Japan", said Cheng. \nHiraoka is a native of Kyoto,, Japan and has mastered the traditional Japanese instruments the Koto and the Shamisen.\n"I focus on music written from the 17th century on," she said. "I write my own tunes and sometimes I also put Japanese poetry to music." \nHiraoka uses the Jiuta Shamisen, a sophisticated instrument that requires a lifetime to master. She performed at the Monroe County Public Library Friday and Saturday. With the spotlight on her, her $10,000 kimono seemed to perfectly match the exquisite sounds and the complex nuances of her country's musical traditions.\nBut perhaps the loudest applause of the evening was directed toward the Indian group Dhagha. The word means string in Hindi, which is India's national language. \nThe group consisted of Srinivas Krishnan on the tabla (Indian drum), Jayashree Prasad on the veena (a South Indian stringed instrument), Anupama Sharma on the sitar (a North Indian stringed instrument), Yunus Ashraf on the rabab (a stringed instrument with origins in Afghanistan), John Terpin on the trombone, and Pat Hernley on the steel pan (a Carribean instrument) and ghatam (a type of South Indian drum).\nThe performances were seemingly flawless and each deserved the standing ovation. The culmination of the concert consisted of a piece played with the table, trombone and the steel pan. \n"My goal," Krishnan said, "was to bring the best of Indian music to Bloomington, and I hope I succeeded"
(09/22/00 4:59am)
This year, more so than ever before, the Lotus Music Festival has managed to attract a high number of world class vocalists. \nAmong the list of vocalists at this year's festival is the group Vida. While many people might not find this name familiar, Vida is a group that has established itself as a force in the world of vocal music. The group will highlight its skills at 9 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 219 E. Fourth St. \nThis Bloomington-based band consists of four women in their mid-twenties. Moira Smiley, Stephanie Heidemann, Sarah Ferrell and Jessica Lewis are four IU graduates who share a passion for the art of vocal music. \nSmiley brought the group together in 1994 when she posted a notice for interested vocalists to perform at her house, and the four voice specialists got together. Their performances do not include any instrumental music. \n"We explore the voice. We all write our own songs but we also work together," Smiley said. \nThe group has been influenced and inspired by quite an eclectic range of musical traditions. "Our music is based on raw, powerful folk based traditions of Eastern Europe and the harmonies of Southern and Western Africa," Smiley said. "We've also been significantly influenced by Spanish and Appalachian music. We like rhythms that are asymmetrical and make you dance in a different way."\nThe thematic content of their music consists of material the four women and the audience can relate to. "We often sing about people's life stories. We sing a lot of American Gospel. We also raise a lot of questions about freedom in our songs," said Lewis, a native of New Zealand.\nLewis moved to the United States in 1991, and although she started out as a biology student at IU, she said she was always artistically inclined. \n"I'm a poet, I love to write," she said. "I admire and am influenced by the minimal imagery presented in the haiku. When I write songs, I try to portray this kind of brief, minimal imagery." \nThe group started out in 1995 performing at various universities. They learned to write original music using the traditions by which they were influenced. \nToday they are much more than a local group -- they have performed throughout the world. Their success resulted in a signing with International Management Group, which schedules their concerts and performs other managerial tasks for them.\nThe group is so well-known that they were invited to the Netherlands to perform at the Hague for a U.N. gathering last year. \n"It was great," Lewis said. "The audience response was awesome and the experience was unforgettable."\nBecause they rely solely on their voices, the group said keeping their voices in prime condition is imperative to their success. They manage to do this in a number of ways. \n"We drink a lot of herbal tea. We also keep in good physical shape while performing daily voice exercises," said Lewis. \nThe group said they have a higher purpose behind what they do. \n"Music is communication from a very individual, internal space expressed in an outward motion with a hesitation, anticipating a response in order to create the next moment," Heidemann said. \n"We try to make our music thought provoking," Smiley said. "We are after a sense of responsibility to move people towards music." \nThe musicians find the profession very rewarding and challenging at the same time. \n"We like travelling in a group and working together," Ferrel said. "It can be frustrating sometimes due to conflict of interests, but after everything is said and done, it is a very rewarding experience. Like sisters, we learn from each other."\nLewis summarized their collective philosophy concerning the art of music: "Music is a powerful force. There is something within the core of everyone of us which resonates with music of all different kinds. It is this universal nature of music that makes it so powerful"
(09/21/00 3:39pm)
The best in the world come together every year at the Lotus Music Festival for a celebration in social, cultural, and musical diversity. This year's festival began Wednesday with a kick-off concert at the Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, 114 E. Kirkwood Ave., and will continue through Sunday. \nWhile some of the events in the festival are free, the main music showcases Saturday and Sunday are not. The price of admission is $20 for a one night or $35 for a two-night pass. The venues for the various performances are: Buskirk-Chumley Theatre; Blue Marble Dance Tent at Showers Plaza; First Presbyterian Church, 221 E. Sixth St.; First United Methodist Church, 219 E. 4th St.; Monroe County Public Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave.; John Waldron Arts Center Auditorium, 122 S. Walnut St.; and Second Story Nightclub, 201 S. College Ave.\nA small Midwestern town like Bloomington might seem to be an unlikely setting for a festival of this magnitude. But the efforts of Lee Williams, executive director of the Lotus Education and Arts Foundation, have turned a relatively minor event in 1994 into a much larger event, exceeding the expectations of its originators.\nBecause of Lotus Fest, Bloomington is now a major stopping point for what some consider the world's best musicians. But Williams is quick to be humble about his achievements during the last six years. \n"Herman Wells made the IU, and consequently, the Bloomington, community as diverse and as responsive to diversity as it is today. His efforts have definitely made my job a lot easier," Williams said.\nIt hasn't been easy for an organization with a low budget to bring the best in the world together for a couple of nights. \n"We collaborate with the World Music Festival in Chicago. We have built a good relationship with them over the past couple of years," he said. "We get several musicians to come here through them." In return, the musicians get the exposure in the Midwest that they otherwise might not have gotten.\nThis year's festival includes more than 100 musicians from 17 countries and features vocalists such as blues legend Odetta and the Azerbaijani genius Alim Qasimov. Lotus Fest has lured more great vocalists this year than ever before, said Moira Smiley of the musical group Vida. \n"I love the top quality performers," said Smiley, founder of the four-member group. "Catching all of them together is fabulous. We really get influenced by what we see."\nJust as Vida is a regular entry at the Lotus Fest, so is the solo versatile Indian musician Srinivas Krishnan, who has performed with Sting and Peter Gabriel. Like almost every other musician performing this weekend, he has nothing but praise for the event and its organizers. \n"Lee (Williams) had a strong commitment toward bringing the best in world music to Bloomington," Krishnan said. "He worked very hard to get sponsors and to make Lotus what it is today. Whenever I see someone like him I will do my best to help him out." \nKrishnan has performed at the Lotus Festival regularly since 1994. He is a tabla performer and will be performing with three of India's best classical musicians.\nThe festival is also highlighted by numerous free events. The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival celebration at the Collins Living and Learning Center at 7 p.m. today is one such event. The classical Chinese music group Music from China will perform tonight and mooncakes, a Chinese specialty, will be served. \nThe Lotus Music Festival is also collaborating with the Ryder Film Series in making film a part of this year's festivities. This collaboration has been going on for six years. Peter LoPilato, director of the Ryder Film Series said he is and is an ardent supporter of the festival. \n"The Lotus Fest is a contributor to the vitality of the community in terms of the diversity of the people and the music. It's truly a great social scene," said LoPilato.\nThe film being shown is "Genghis Blues." The screening will take place at 8 p.m. today at the Laughing Planet Cafe. Admission is $3.50.\nThe film is a unique chronicle of throat singing from the tiny Republic of Tuva, sandwiched between Mongolia and Siberia. The film explores the life and art of Paul Pena (possibly the only throat singer born outside Tuva), and his travels in Tuva.\nFor more information on the Lotus Music Festival, visit www.lotusfest.org or e-mail lotus@bluemarble.net.
(08/31/00 5:04am)
The Jammin' On Walnut musical extravaganza Tuesday night was exactly what it was expected to be: jammin' all night and a lot more. The event consisted of local and regional bands performing at three different locations: Axis, 419 S. Walnut, Bluebird, 216 N. Walnut, and Kilroy's Sports, 319 N. Walnut. The net proceeds of this event were donated to Shelter Inc.\nAt 9:30 p.m. the party got off to an impressive start at Kilroy's with the captivating group Dale and Moe Z. They thrilled the young, party-hungry audience for more than an hour with their diverse musical talents. While this was highly entertaining, the party was just beginning.\nThings got off to a slightly slower start at the Bluebird with Danger Will Robinson, but it didn't take long for the dance floor to get crowded. The popular local group Danagas was next on the agenda. \nArguably the most popular band in Bloomington, Danagas was as mesmerizing as ever with their seemingly flawless fusion of rock, hip-hop, funk and rhythm and blues. \nMost of the people there were long-time fans of the group. \n"That's what you call great music. I wouldn't miss them for the world," said Ryan Coleman, a graduate of IU and former IDS editor who drove down to Bloomington especially for the event.\nWhile things heated up at Bluebird, the real attraction was the newly renovated Axis (formerly Mars). While the grand opening is not until Thursday, hundreds of thrill seekers got a taste Tuesday night of what it has to offer. This was undoubtedly the most crowded club of the three.\n"I thought people in Europe knew how to party, but it doesn\'t get better than this," said Theodoros Sophocleous, a native of Greece and an associate's degree student.\nThings continued this way until almost 2:30 a.m. Even though the music ended then, the party did not. People had to be urged to leave.\n"The musicians I spoke to were very happy about the reception they received. Things definitely exceeded expectations for me," said Dave Kubiak, general manager of Axis and the Bluebird.\nWhile the next Jammin' On Walnut concert isn't until November, Tuesday night gave people a lot to talk about, including a preview of the multi-talented bands playing in Bloomington for the rest of the year.
(08/30/00 1:16am)
Two or three times a year, the clubs of downtown Bloomington join together and turn up the heat with music from local and regional bands. It is once again that time of year when the prolific local musical talent shakes and bakes Bloomington all night. This extravaganza of music, dance and booze is what has come to be called Jammin' on Walnut Street.\nSpread between three venues, the music will begin at 9:30 p.m. today. Bands will appear at: Axis, 419 S. Walnut St.; Bluebird, 216 N. Walnut St.; and Kilroy's Sports Bar, 319 N. Walnut St. Admission is $3 per head for all three venues, and one must be 21 to be admitted. \nJammin' on Walnut Street is a charity event whose net proceeds benefit Shelter Inc. \n"The week of Sept. 11 is 'Open Your Heart' week and the proceeds from tonight will be used in the fundraisers during that week," said Gigi Larmour-Goldin,who is on the board of directors at Shelter Inc.\nThe person at the helm of this mega party is Dave Kubiak. He is the general manager of Bluebird and Axis and has been organizing this event for the past three years. \nThe time and venues of this event have been strategically selected by Kubiak. All the venues are within walking distance from campus and the dorms. \n"This is a way to create excitement on Walnut Street," Kubiak said. "The first week of school is the best time for this because all the students will be back in town. It also gives them a preview of bands that will be performing in Bloomington in the future. This event has always done well. As many as 2000 people have shown up in the past."\nThe music tonight will consist of a diverse selection of groups. Many of the bands are local ones that have played at these venues before. \nOne such group is Danagas (named after Nagas, a Tibetan tribe), whose mixture of soul, funk, hip-hop and rhythm and blues has a huge local following. Danagas will perform at 11:15 p.m. today at the Bluebird.\nRyan Fitch, drummer and manager of the band, said, "We have musicians with a very diverse musical background because of being educated at the IU School of Music. This is a major reason for our success." \nAxis will feature the bands Re:boot and Dave & Rae, and Shaffer Street Sports will host Only Infinity, Mode St, and Dale & Moe Z. Bluebird will present Johnny Socko, Danagas and Danger Will Robinson.