Sallynee Amawat, raised in two distinct cultures, is eager to take artistic risks and hungry to link continents and ideas. Her latest projects with Infusion Baroque cover topics as varied as gender, courtly dance, and ‘exoticized’ repertoire.
We can start to envision a world where ancient music from opposite sides of the globe co-exists on a program, creating and exploring a new definition for historically informed performances. Allowing ourselves to explore different aural palettes enriches us. When we learn about and understand different cultures with open hearts and minds, we begin to appreciate one another.
Sopranos Maya Kherani and Sherezade Panthaki (at right) and tenor Asitha Tennekoon are among a growing number of South Asian musicians working to promote more diversity in early-music casting and programming while building their own impressive careers. “I knew what it was like to not have role models,” says Kherani. “I thought if I could change that for one young person by being proud and open about my heritage, I should do it.”
To inaugurate the HBCU Early Music Initiative Project, two of Early Music America’s IDEA Taskforce members, harpsichordist Joyce Chen and viola da gambist Patricia Ann Neely, gave an engaging demonstration on baroque performance practice at Delaware State University. This outreach event was presented to a diverse group of student and community members, including non-majors taking intro to music courses and music majors who are planning on pursuing graduate degrees.
As a society, we are finally having conversations that aim to upend systemic injustice. But there’s been curiously little discussion about the ancient hatred of antisemitism, which has seen a resurgence across the political spectrum. Even as American Jewish institutions have come under fatal attack, this conversation has taken a backseat in the early-music community.
It started with a blunt, personal question: How many times has an artist of color entered a rehearsal room full of musicians only to discover that they are the only artist of color — although they know many capable colleagues of color who weren’t asked to participate?
Joyce Chen’s research “shows that there is an imbalanced, circular relationship between Western and Asian HIP communities, exacerbated by a persistent tension between modern sensibilities and century-old musical practices.”
The American Bach Society invites proposals for a grant or grants of up to $2000 for scholarly or creative projects that expand diversity in the study or performance of J. …
Deep Roots, New Branches, Early Music Seattle’s spring 2021 interactive series, invites musicians and audiences to explore the awe-inspiring tangles that shape what we call “early music,” and follow its …
A Milestone for Early Music Seattle: Deep Roots, New Branches Read More »
Jane Savage’s carol from 1785 was unearthed during research into charity hospital music and will be performed at Ely Cathedral