The sounds of Zimbabwe will fill the Brechmin Auditorium on Friday afternoon, as the building plays host to a celebration of the legacy of Zimbabwean marimba music at the UW.
The marimba is a type of xylophone used widely in Central and West African music. Friday’s celebration will feature a pair of hands-on marimba workshops, a panel discussion, and a free concert.
Capping off the evening will be a concert at 7:30 p.m. by Ruzivo Seattle-based high-energy, contemporary Zimbabwean afro-pop group who released their latest album, “Ndega Zvangu” in July 2013. According to their website, the band plays a mix of traditional Zimbabwean music based on the mbira, an African instrument consisting of 22 t0 28 keys mounted on a hardwood soundboard, along with contemporary compositions and arrangements based on the music of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Participation in the workshop and panel is by reservation only, while the concert is open to the public. All three events are free.
In a release, Matt Swanson, a UW music education graduate student, and organizer of the event, said the event is designed for a broad audience.
“The event is geared for music educators, students in ethnomusicology and music education (both current and alumni), friends of ethnomusicology, and anyone else with an interest in Zimbabwean marimba music and its legacy at UW,” Swanson said.
The event is made possible by the Barbara Lundquist Fund for Excellence in Music, Teaching, and Culture, an endowment established in 2012 to, “provide critical support to the Music Education program.”
Attend the Celebration – Friday Feb. 21st:
- 4:30pm: Marimba workshop, hosted by the UW Zimbabwean Music Club (founded in 2012 and open to all UW students and community members) Reservation required
- 5:15pm: Panel discussion: Sheree Seretse, director of the Sumba Youth Marimba Ensemble and Zimbabwean Music Festival co-founder Claire Jones and Robert Kauffman. Reservation required
- 6:00pm: Marimba workshop, hosted by Sheree Seretse. Reservation required
- 7:30pm: Ruzivo concert at Brechemin Auditorium, University of Washington. Free and open to the public.
