EXTENDED DEADLINE: Feb. 3, 2012

 Travel to the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, & Austria! May 20–June 5, 2012

Ethnomusicology graduate student Indra Ridwan has many accomplishments to celebrate this fall. His article on Sundanese children’s songs “Kakawihan Barudak Sunda: Sundanese Children’s Songs of West Java, Indonesia” was recently published as the lead article in the journal Asian Musicology [17(1), 2011: 7-52]. Ridwan also played a leading role in the organization of the Indonesian Cultural Exhibition that took place at the William Pitt Union on October 9.

Ridwan's article is based on his MA thesis and he writes,

Ethnomusicology Graduate Student Meng Ren will give a talk at the Next Asia Over Lunch Meeting titled "'Why Are the Flowers So Beautiful?' Changing Cultural Policies for a United Chinese Identity." Ren's talks takes place on at 4130 Posvar Hall on Wednesday, November 16 at noon. Attendees are encouraged to bring lunch or a snack to enjoy. 

Music major Trent Cunningham successfully defended his Bachelor of Philosophy (BPhil) thesis entitled “Psychadelic Orientalism: Representations of India in the Music of the Beatles” on November 1, 2011. In the thesis, Trent shows how the grouping together of psychedelic drugs and Indian music in the British and American popular imagination was made possible by the music of the Beatles during the mid-1960s.

The Carpathian Music Ensemble will perform as part of a series of Fabergé education programs presented by the Frick Art Museum auditorium (Point Breeze) on Sunday, November 6 at 2:30 p.m. The performance is part of the Fabergé exhibit at the Frick that runs until January 15.

Ethnomusicologist Oyebade Dosunmu (PhD 2010) will give a Brown Bag Lecture for the University Center for International Studies African Studies Program on Thursday, October 27 from 12:30–1:30 p.m. at 4130 Wesly W. Posvar Hall. Dosunmu's lecture, titled From Hepcat Beat to Afro, explores the development of Nigerian pop music.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of Music, Center for Russian and East European Studies, and the Study Abroad Office announce a new undergraduate study abroad program in ethnomusicology  — "Romani Music, Culture, and Human Rights in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia" — May 19-June 5, 2012, 3 credits, open to all qualified undergraduate students.

Whether performing with the legendary Ravi Shankar at Walt Disney Concert Hall or instructing music students at Pitt, virtuoso Tabla player Samir Chatterjee has a single-minded focus on cultivating the understanding and appreciation of Indian music. The Tabla is a pair of two drums that provides accompaniment to a wide variety of Hindustani classical music as well as popular and devotional music of India.

The Department of Music doesn't have any scheduled events this weekend, but that doesn't mean members of the Department aren't busy.

If you're are in the New York City area on Friday, September 30, you can hear the premiere of Eric Moe's new percussion piece Danger: Giant Frogs as part of a performance from Talujon Percussion. The concert takes place at Roulette at 8 p.m.

Here in Pittsburgh on Saturday, October 1, Adriana Helbig has been the driving force behind a concert by the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus that takes place at 7 p.m. in Bellefield Hall Auditorium. The concert benefits the Ukrainian Language Studies program at Pitt. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette featured an excellent preview and history of the group on Wednesday.

Updated with video: If you're running in Pittsburgh's Great Race on Sunday, you'll get a pick-me-up around the three-mile mark as you pass Pitt's Music Building. The Carpathian Ensemble, led by Adriana Helbig, will be on the front lawn cheering on racers with their unique brand of immigrant folk funk. We have some video of the group rehearsing posted to our Facebook page, (which, by the way, you can like). Run strong and enjoy the music!