UCLA Dept. of Ethnomusicology announces event schedule

The UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology at the Herb Alpert School of Music continues its yearlong 50th anniversary celebration with a series of events for the public's enjoyment throughout the fall quarter. Programs include performances in various genres, as well as exhibitions, academic lectures, conferences and symposia.

Since the founding of the Institute of Ethnomusicology at UCLA in 1960 by pioneering ethnomusicologist Mantle Hood, the campus has been a leader in the study and performance of musical cultures of the world. The first independent ethnomusicology department in the United States and the first program to award both undergraduate and graduate degrees in ethnomusicology, UCLA Ethnomusicology has produced more ethnomusicology graduates than any other program in the world.

Throughout its five decades, UCLA Ethnomusicology has been recognized as the world's premier program as a result of its student and faculty achievements, its broad and innovative course offerings, and its training of faculty for other music programs. It was a UCLA ethnomusicology graduate — Robert E. Brown — who is credited with coining the iconic phrase "world music."

The department is also home to the UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive, one of the largest sound archives in the United States, with more than 100,000 audiovisual recordings. For a history of ethnomusicology at UCLA and a complete listing of events, visit www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/celebrating50years or call 310-206-3033.

For events at UCLA's Schoenberg Music Building, all-day parking ($10) and short-term parking (payable at pay stations) are available in Lot 2 (enter the campus at Hilgard and Westholme avenues).

FREE CONCERTS

Wednesday, Nov. 3 7 p.m.
Music of Europe and the Americas
Jan Popper Theater, Schoenberg Music Building (1200)
This concert features Fusionando (Latin acoustic fusion group), the UCLA Bluegrass and Old Time String Ensemble (a.k.a. the Los Angeles BlueGrassHoppers), Mariachi de Uclatlán and Randy Taylor and Friends (jazz combo), all of which are student ensembles or independent groups from the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology. The concert is sponsored by the Ethnomusicology Undergraduate Student Organization.

Monday, Nov. 22 7 p.m.
UCLA Jazz Combos
Schoenberg Hall, Schoenberg Music Building
Performances feature UCLA jazz combos directed by George Bohanon, Kenny Burrell, Clayton Cameron, Charley Harrison, Charles Owens and Michele Weir.

Tuesday, Nov. 23 7 p.m.
UCLA Big Bands
Schoenberg Hall, Schoenberg Music Building
Performances feature the UCLA Jazz Orchestra, directed by Charley Harrison; the UCLA Latin Jazz Ensemble, directed by Bobby Rodriguez; the Contemporary Jazz Ensemble, directed by James Newton; and the Jazz Fusion Ensemble, directed by Kenny Burrell.

FREE EXHIBITIONS

Sept. 20– June 12, 2011
Exhibition and Visual Display of Historical Photos and Artifacts
Schoenberg Music Building
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Part of the 50th anniversary celebration of ethnomusicology at UCLA, this exhibition features photos, instruments, videos and more highlighting the people, events and ideas that have shaped the study of world music at UCLA and around the globe. Maps are available to help guide visitors throughout the building.

Saturday, Oct. 23 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Ethnomusicology Archive Exhibition at the Fifth Annual Archives Bazaar
Doheny Memorial Library 3550 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles
Crowds of researchers, genealogists, amateur historians and others can explore the treasures of local history and culture in Los Angeles' amazing variety of archives, as well as attend discussion panels with local authors and filmmakers. Stop by the UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive's booth celebrating the impact of 50 years of the study of ethnomusicology in Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.usc.edu/libraries/archives/arc/lasubject.

NAZIR ALI JAIRAZBHOY COLLOQUIUM SERIES

The Nazir Ali Jairazbhoy Colloquium Series presents a variety of lectures focusing on research and other issues important in the field of ethnomusicology. Lectures are free and open to the public.

Wednesday, Sept. 29 1–3 p.m.
Roger Kendall, UCLA Schoenberg Music Building (B544)

Wednesday, Oct. 13 1–3 p.m.
Megan Rancier, UCLA Schoenberg Music Building (B544)

Friday, Oct. 29 1–3 p.m.
Student Presentations for the Society for Ethnomusicology Annual Meeting Schoenberg Music Building (B544)
Practice paper presentation sessions for graduate students who will present their papers at the Society of Ethnomusicology's 55th annual meeting, Nov. 11–15 in Los Angeles.

Friday, Nov. 5 1–3 p.m.
Student Presentations for the Society for Ethnomusicology Annual Meeting Schoenberg Music Building (B544)
Practice paper presentation sessions for graduate students who will present their papers at the Society of Ethnomusicology's 55th annual meeting, Nov. 11–15 in Los Angeles.

Friday, Dec. 3 1–3 p.m.
Ray Briggs, California State University, Long Beach Schoenberg Music Building (B544)

SYMPOSIUM AND EVENTS

Wednesday, Oct. 27
Friends of UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive Launch Event
UCLA Ethnomusicology Archive, Schoenberg Music Building
Hear and see treasures from this world-class collection (audio and video recordings, photographs and more), meet the archivists and enjoy light refreshments. Visit www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/archive/ for more information.

Tuesday, Nov. 9
UCLA Alumni Symposium and Dinner: Fifty Years of Ethnomusicology at UCLA
Symposium: 8 a.m.–7 p.m. (Schoenberg Music Building)
Dinner: 7–10 p.m. (UCLA Faculty Center)
Alumni will make 10-minute presentations on six topics: intellectual and institutional history; geographical regions; UCLA methods (bi-musicality, melograph, archiving and publications); systematic musicology; professional worlds of ethnomusicologists; and UCLA and the world. For more information, visit www.ethnomusic.ucla.edu/celebrating50years.

Friday, Nov. 12 5-7 p.m.
UCLA Alumni Reception at Society for Ethnomusicology Meeting
Wilshire Grand Hotel 930 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
55th Annual Meeting of the Society for Ethnomusicology

Wednesday–Sunday, Nov. 10–14
The UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology hosts the Society for Ethnomusicology’s 55th Annual Meeting – Sound Ecologies.
For information and to register, visit www.indiana.edu/~semhome/2010/index.shtml.

Wednesday, Nov. 10, all day
Pre-Conference Symposium: The Life and Work of Nazir Ali Jairazbhoy
Wilshire Grand Hotel 930 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
Pre-conference registration fee: $25 (includes evening concert)
Concert-only ticket: $10 at the door
This symposium celebrates a lifetime of research by Nazir Ali Jairazbhoy, founding chair of the UCLA Department of Ethnomusicology. The event includes paper sessions, a plenary lecture by Peter Manuel and an evening tribute concert featuring music from South Asia.

Thursday–Sunday, Nov. 11–14, all day
Conference
Wilshire Grand Hotel 930 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
Conference topics include: Music, Displacement and Disaster; Music, Copyrights and Human Rights; Music and Social Activism; and Film Music.

Thursday, Nov. 11 7:30 p.m.
Concert: UCLA Music of Korea Ensemble
Wilshire Grand Hotel 930 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
The UCLA Music of Korea Ensemble, directed by DongSuk Kim, presents a variety of styles of court and folk music and dance traditions.

Thursday, Nov. 11 8 p.m.
Gamelan Çudaman: 'Bamboo to Bronze'
Royce Hall, UCLA Campus
Tickets: $28–48 ($15 for UCLA students)
The exhilarating splendor of Çudamani returns to UCLA Live with its newest innovation, "Bamboo to Bronze." The 26-member music and dance ensemble celebrates Bali through the intimate and poetic sounds of a small village, as well as the dynamic and technically dazzling sound of the seven-toned gamelan Semarandana.

Friday, Nov. 12 7 p.m.
Welcome Reception and Dance Party
Wilshire Grand Hotel 930 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
California State University, Northridge's Masanga Marimba, directed by Ric Alviso, performs traditional and popular music from Zimbabwe and Latin America. Special guest Julie Chigamba will teach Shona dance styles, and meeting attendees are welcome to bring drums, horns and other instruments to play along.

Saturday, Nov. 13 6:15 p.m.
Banquet
UCLA James West Alumni Center
Tickets: $30
The banquet will feature Puerto Rican cuisine catered by Mofongos Comida Caribeña.

Saturday, Nov. 13 8 p.m.
UCLA Gala Concert
Schoenberg Hall
Celebrating 50 years of ethnomusicology at UCLA, this concert includes works by faculty artists Münir Beken, Kenny Burrell, Cheryl Keyes, Steve Loza, James Newton, A.J. Racy and faculty from the UCLA Jazz and World Music ensembles.