BlackClassics

Concerts & Events

 

Every effort has been made to give accurate information, however, we cannot be held responsible for any errors or changes to programme.  All events must be booked with the venue or event organisers.  You are advised to check with the organisers or venue before attending an event.

August   |   September   |   October

August

EVENT NAME:  Akan Drum: the drummer is calling me

Discover the drum that travelled from West Africa to Virginia through the Transatlantic Slave Trade

DATES: 12 August - 10 October 2010

British Museum    Admission free

DESCRIPTION: The Akan drum is the oldest African-American object in the British Museum, brought from West Africa to the Colony of Virginia as part of the slave trade around 1735. 'Akan' refers to an ethnic and linguistic group from West Africa which includes the Fante, Asante and Akuapem, and its culture is most apparent today in Ghana. The drum was acquired by Sir Hans Sloane, whose collection formed the basis of the British Museum when it was founded in 1753. Playwright, broadcaster and British Museum Trustee Bonnie Greer has been involved in the creation of the display, and it focuses on two main themes - the Transatlantic Slave Trade and the origins of African-American music.

The first part of the display describes the journey of the drum from West Africa to the Colony of Virginia, relating the suffering and displacement of peoples as a result of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. This journey would have typically included the practice of 'dancing the slaves', where enslaved Africans were forcibly exercised on board the slave ships, a practice in which it is likely this drum would have played a part. The second part of the display examines the massive influence of African and African-American music on most popular music from the 20th century onwards, including jazz, blues, R&B, and rock 'n' roll.

The drum is one of the objects featured in the British Museum and BBC Radio 4 series A History of the World in 100 object.  Image: Akan drum. Made in West Africa and collected in the American colony of Virginia probably between 1710 and 1745. 'The drummer is calling me' is a quote from the poem Limbo by Edward Kamau Brathwaite (b.1930). In it, he likens the practice of 'dancing the slaves' to a limbo dance in Africa. Copyright:The Trustees of the British Museum.

GALLERY TALKS

Room 3

Free, just drop in

'Improvisation': Survival and Triumph

Wednesday 1 September,  1.15pm

Bonnie Greer, British Museum Trustee

'And the Beat Goes On': Time, Travel and Song

Saturday 11 September, 1.15pm

Mykaell Riley, University of Westminster

Interaction between Africans and Native Americans at the time of slavery

SPECIAL EVENT

The Drummer is Calling Me: poetry and music inspired by the Akan drum

Friday 24 September, 6.30pm, BP Lecture Theatre

Join in a celebration of the artistic legacy of the Akan drum. Poet and playwright Inua Ellams will explore the wide ranging musical heritage of the African Diaspora accompanied by the rich sounds of African-American music.

£3, Members & concessions £2

GALLERY TALK

Room 3   Free, just drop in

Thursday 30 September, 13.15

Max Carocci, British Museum

Curator's Introduction to the Akan Drum

Friday 8 October, 1.15pm, Stevenson Lecture Theatre

Devorah Romanek, British Museum, explores themes relating to the display including the displacement of peoples due to the slave trade and African American music. Free, booking advised.

VENUE:  British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG
TICKETS / INFO:  Admission Free.  Book online: www.britishmuseum.org   Tel.: 020 7323 8181

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EVENT NAME:  'Errollyn Wallen Songbook'

DATE:  Saturday 14th August

DESCRIPTION:  Errollyn Wallen performs with string quartet 'Quartet X'.

VENUE:  Tete-a-Tete Festival, Riverside Studios, Crisp Road, Hammersmith, London W6

TIME:  9.15pm

TICKETS/INFO:  http://www.tete-a-tete.org.uk

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EVENT NAME:  Concert for Guitar & Voice with Ahmed Dickinson

DATE:  Tuesday 24th August

DESCRIPTION:  Concert comprising classical works for guitar and voice by Spanish and South American composers, featuring the ravishing vocal talents of soprano Laura Mitchell.

VENUE:  Southwark Cathedral, Chapter House, Montague Close, London SE1 9DA

TIME:  Confirm with venue.

TICKETS/INFO:  Box Office/Enquiries: 020 7367 6700  (Entrance Free)

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September


EVENT NAME:   African Sanctus by David Fanshawe
DATE:   Tuesday 7th September
DESCRIPTION:   More than three hundred students of the United Schools Church Trust and United Learning Trust family will come together on 7th September 2010 to perform David Fanshawe's African Sanctus. A day of workshops shall precede the performance, introducing all involved to the ideas of communication and cooperation through art, conversation and knowledge. An exhibition of specially commissioned graffiti art will introduce the audience to this under-represented art-form, whilst enhancing the cohesive nature of the project. The performance will be visually enhanced by a multimedia show, consisting of film, photography and animation; and preceded by drumming, singing and film.

The performance of African Sanctus, which will be the finale of the African Sanctus 2010 project. Seating is unreserved, and doors will open at 7pm with informal exhibitions and performances. The performance itself will begin at 7.30pm, with a short interval before African Sanctus itself begins at 8:30pm. We anticipate the performance will conclude at about 9:40pm.

VENUE:   Canterbury Cathedral, The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2EH
TICKETS/INFO: No tickets at door - http://www.africansanctus2010.com
What is African Sanctus?

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EVENT NAME:   Guitar Recital - Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas
DATE:   Wednesday 15th September
DESCRIPTION:   Concert with Emma Blanco. Fundraising event celebrating the life of the late Mark Blanco.
TICKETS/INFO: Box Office: 020 7388 0022   Online: http://www.thebloomsbury.com

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October


EVENT NAME:  Guitar Recital - Ahmed Dickenson Cardenas

DATE:  Friday 1st October

DESCRIPTION:   Recital of music for guitar and string quartet by Cuban and South American composers, featuring the Santiago String Quartet.

Born in Havana, Dickinson Cardenas is one of the finest young performers of the Cuban Classical Guitar School. He is a sophisticated virtuoso on his instrument and an ambassador of Cuban culture.

VENUE:  Bolivar Hall, 54 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DL

TIME:  7.30pm

TICKETS/INFO:  Box Office/Enquiries: 020 7388 5788
For details of all concerts taking place in October visit website:  http://www.ahmeddickinson.com

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  Film Event
EVENT NAME:  'Amazing Grace'  (Cert PG 117mins)  Dir. Michael Apted
DATE:  Tuesday 5th October
DESCRIPTION:  Starring Ioan Gruffudd, Michael Gambon and Albert Finney. It's a familiar hymn but did you know the creator of Amazing Grace was involved in trading slaves? To mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the Slave Trade BBC South with BBC Radio Solent, BBC Radio Berkshire, BBC Southern Counties Radio and BBC Radio Oxford have joined forces to re-record a special version of Amazing Grace - the anthemic song written by John Newton, a reformed slave trader. "It has a personal message for everyone involved.  Whether you've got ancestors in slavery or whether you've been brought up in the church, it features heavily in most people's lives."

Amazing Grace was written by John Newton, a sea captain who worked in the Slave Trade in Sierra Leone. Newton repented his past as a slave captain and became an evangelical preacher. Anti-slavery campaigner William Wilberforce later claimed him to be an inspiration - instrumental in providing him with the impetus to stay in politics and fight the trade. The tune may have come from songs sung by slaves and has become an anthem for gospel choirs in the English-speaking world and just one of the hidden legacies of slavery.

The evening will also feature African music and food, and a special introductory talk.

VENUE:  Portsmouth Film Society, Omega Centre, Omega Street, Portsmouth, Hants PO5 4LP

TIME:  Doors open: 6.30pm  Event starts: 7.00pm

TICKETS/INFO:  http://www.portsmouthfilmsociety.org.uk

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EVENT NAME:  Flute & Piano Recital - UK and World Premieres by Rowland Sutherland with Mary Dullea

DATE:  Wednesday 6th October

DESCRIPTION:  As part of the 3rd Londonb Festival of American Music, the recital will be focussing on a wide area of stunning contemporary classical music from the USA never before heard in the UK.

VENUE:  The Warehouse, 13 Theed Street, London SE1 8ST

TIME:  7.30pm

TICKETS/INFO:  Tel: 0208 521 8075   Online: http://www.lontano.co.uk  Info: http://www.rowlandsutherland.com

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EVENT NAME:  Guitar Recital - Ahmed Dickenson Cardenas

DATE:  Friday 8th October

DESCRIPTION:   Recital of guitar music, with Roberto Molina y Eralis Fernandez. Born in Havana, Dickinson Cardenas is one of the finest young performers of the Cuban Classical Guitar School.  He is a sophisticated virtuoso on his instrument and an ambassador of Cuban culture.

VENUE:  Bolivar Hall, 54 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DL

TIME:  7.30pm

TICKETS/INFO:  Box Office/Enquiries: 020 7388 5788  Website:  http://www.ahmeddickinson.com

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EVENT NAME:  African Sanctus - Workshop and Performance

DATE:  Saturday 9th October

DESCRIPTION:  A workshop will be led by the City Chamber Choir.  Workshop will be followed by the performance at 7.30pm.

VENUE:  UK Ripe Church, Ripe, East Sussex

TIME:  10.00am workshop / 7.30pm performance

TICKETS/INFO:  Enquiries - 01825 872279     Website: http://www.citychamber.org.uk
What is African Sanctus?

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EVENT NAME:  African Sanctus - David Fanshawe

DATE:  Friday 15th October

DESCRIPTION:  With the City Chamber Choir - Cond. Stephen Jones, Soprano Catherine Boyce with percussion and soloists. The choir performs the vibrant and exciting African Sanctus in the fitting surrounding of the National Musicians' Church. This unorthodox setting of the Latin Mass is harmonised with traditional African music recorded by the late David Fanshawe on his journeys up the River Nile and heard in counterpoint with the live chorus, soprano soloist and instrumental ensemble.
VENUE:  St Sepulchre without Newgate, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 9DE

TIME:  7.30pm

TICKETS/INFO:  http://www.citychamber.org.uk
More about African Sanctus

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EVENT NAME:  Sir Willard White & Eugene Asti - Oxford Lieder Festival

DATE:  Friday 29th October

DESCRIPTION:  Sir Willard White is one of the world’s best-loved singers. He comes to the Oxford Lieder Festival with renowned pianist Eugene Asti. Together they perform a programme including Schumann's dramatic Husaren-Lieder and some of his Heine settings, as well as songs by Schubert, and settings of American folksongs by Ives and Copland. Not a concert to miss!

VENUE:  Holywell Music Room, Holywell Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 3SW UK

TIME:  8.00pm

TICKETS/INFO:  Tel: 01865 305305 (Mon-Sat 9.30-6pm)   Website: http://www.oxfordplayhouse.com

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August 2010