imani winds: performance and demonstration
DESCRIPTION
Formed in 1997, Imani Winds is a classical woodwind ensemble known for their high-energy performances and musical versatility. They focus on representing composers and cultures of diverse musical backgrounds in their repertoire. Get to know them and their unique style as they explore the topics of rhythm and melody, the building blocks of music.TRANSCRIPT
French Horn
Oboe
Clarinet
Flute
Bassoon
David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of the NSO.
WHAT IS A WOODWIND QUINTET? The instruments of a woodwind quintet include flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and French horn. But wait! Why is the French horn, a brass instrument, included in the woodwind quintet? The French horn produces sound by buzzing into a mouthpiece, not blowing across a hole or a reed. It uses valves and tubes to control pitch, not finger holes. It is part of a woodwind quintet because woodwinds traditionally add musical “color” to a performance and the brass section adds “power.”
WHAT IS A WOODWIND? The sound a woodwind instrument makes is produced either by blowing air across the edge of a hole (flute, recorder), across a vibrating reed (clarinet, saxophone), or between a pair of vibrating reeds (oboe, bassoon, bagpipes). Pitch in a woodwind instrument is controlled by selectively covering finger holes or keys. While many of these instruments were originally made of wood, modern woodwinds can be made of wood, metal, or plastic.
IMANI WINDS
A PERFORMANCE AND DEMONSTRAT ION
Rhythm and Melody: The Building Blocks of Music
David M. Rubenstein Chairman
Deborah F. Rutter President
Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education
NSO Performance/Demonstrations are made possible in part by the generous support of The Clark Charitable Foundation; Kaplan, Inc.; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; U.S. Department of Education; and The Volgenau Foundation.
Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.
Education and related artistic programs are made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.
www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org
Cuesheets are produced by ArtsEdgE, an education program of the Kennedy Center.
Learn more about education at the Kennedy Center at
www.kennedy-center.org/education
The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
© 2015 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Cuesheet P
ER
FO
RM
AN
CE G
UID
E
About the PerformanceMeet musicians Valerie Coleman, Toyin Spellman-Diaz, Mariam Adam, Jeff Scott, and Monica Ellis, who together make up the classical music woodwind ensemble, Imani Winds. Get to know them during this special performance and demonstration as they explore the topics of rhythm and melody, the building blocks of music.
THE CONCERT PROGRAMDuring Rhythm and Melody: The Building Blocks of Music, some of the music you will hear includes:
“RED CLAY AND MISSISSIPPI DELTA”By Valerie Coleman
Inspired by her family, this playful, biographical work by Imani Winds’ own flutist Valerie Coleman was written in the style of a scherzo (SCARE-tzoh), classical music that is fast-moving and humorous.
Listen for… jazz and blues elements in the music that create a clear rhythmic character and immediately draw listeners in.
“KITES OVER HAVANA”By Paquito D’Rivera Arrangement by Valerie Coleman
Imani Winds commissioned this whimsical piece by Cuban saxophonist and composer Paquito D’Rivera. The music evokes D’Rivera’s native Cuba and his life as a musician on the road. Like many of his works, “Kites over Havana” incorporates bright rhythms and elements of Latin jazz.
Listen for… the spoken poem recited throughout the piece, which reinforces the music’s dream-like tone.
“OBLIVION”By Astor Piazzolla Arrangement by Jeff Scott
This famous work by Argentinian pianist and composer Astor Piazzolla is a slow and haunting tango.
Listen for… the unique sounds of the different woodwind instruments, as each of the five members of Imani Winds plays an expressive solo.
“RUBISPHERE”By Valerie Coleman
Inspired by New York City’s nightclub scene, Imani Winds’ Coleman composed this original, ultra-rhythmic piece for the flute, clarinet, and bassoon. Although short, “Rubisphere” is overflowing with elements of jazz, grunge, and funk music.
Listen for… the rhythm’s pulsing, steady baseline set by bassoonist Monica Ellis.
“DANCE MEDITERRANEA”By Simon Shaheen Arrangement by Jeff Scott
Israeli string master Simon Shaheen’s Middle Eastern-inspired work incorporates improvised solos from all of the players to create a fun and flashy dance piece.
Listen for… the quick changes in rhythm and melody that lead up to the music’s fiery finish.
Ensemble members from left to right: Scott (French horn), Spellman-Diaz (oboe), Coleman (flute), Ellis (bassoon), Adam (clarinet)
IMANI WINDS: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOWn Formed in 1997, Imani Winds is a woodwind quintet (group of five musicians) that focuses on representing composers and cultures of diverse musical backgrounds in their repertoire.
Phot
os b
y M
atth
ew M
urph
y
n The group’s mission is to expand their repertoire by both composing and arranging music for themselves, in addition to commissioning new works for classical wind quintet.
n Demonstrating that classical music is much more diverse than usually thought of, they perform modern classical and “world music” that bridge European, American, African, and Latin musical traditions.
n The meaning of the quintet’s name “imani” means “faith” in the African language Swahili.
Listen Up!Learn more about jazz and classical music on ArtsEdgEwww.artsedge.kennedy-center.org/students/kc-connections
About the PerformanceMeet musicians Valerie Coleman, Toyin Spellman-Diaz, Mariam Adam, Jeff Scott, and Monica Ellis, who together make up the classical music woodwind ensemble, Imani Winds. Get to know them during this special performance and demonstration as they explore the topics of rhythm and melody, the building blocks of music.
THE CONCERT PROGRAMDuring Rhythm and Melody: The Building Blocks of Music, some of the music you will hear includes:
“RED CLAY AND MISSISSIPPI DELTA”By Valerie Coleman
Inspired by her family, this playful, biographical work by Imani Winds’ own flutist Valerie Coleman was written in the style of a scherzo (SCARE-tzoh), classical music that is fast-moving and humorous.
Listen for… jazz and blues elements in the music that create a clear rhythmic character and immediately draw listeners in.
“KITES OVER HAVANA”By Paquito D’Rivera Arrangement by Valerie Coleman
Imani Winds commissioned this whimsical piece by Cuban saxophonist and composer Paquito D’Rivera. The music evokes D’Rivera’s native Cuba and his life as a musician on the road. Like many of his works, “Kites over Havana” incorporates bright rhythms and elements of Latin jazz.
Listen for… the spoken poem recited throughout the piece, which reinforces the music’s dream-like tone.
“OBLIVION”By Astor Piazzolla Arrangement by Jeff Scott
This famous work by Argentinian pianist and composer Astor Piazzolla is a slow and haunting tango.
Listen for… the unique sounds of the different woodwind instruments, as each of the five members of Imani Winds plays an expressive solo.
“RUBISPHERE”By Valerie Coleman
Inspired by New York City’s nightclub scene, Imani Winds’ Coleman composed this original, ultra-rhythmic piece for the flute, clarinet, and bassoon. Although short, “Rubisphere” is overflowing with elements of jazz, grunge, and funk music.
Listen for… the rhythm’s pulsing, steady baseline set by bassoonist Monica Ellis.
“DANCE MEDITERRANEA”By Simon Shaheen Arrangement by Jeff Scott
Israeli string master Simon Shaheen’s Middle Eastern-inspired work incorporates improvised solos from all of the players to create a fun and flashy dance piece.
Listen for… the quick changes in rhythm and melody that lead up to the music’s fiery finish.
Ensemble members from left to right: Scott (French horn), Spellman-Diaz (oboe), Coleman (flute), Ellis (bassoon), Adam (clarinet)
IMANI WINDS: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOWn Formed in 1997, Imani Winds is a woodwind quintet (group of five musicians) that focuses on representing composers and cultures of diverse musical backgrounds in their repertoire.
Phot
os b
y M
atth
ew M
urph
y
n The group’s mission is to expand their repertoire by both composing and arranging music for themselves, in addition to commissioning new works for classical wind quintet.
n Demonstrating that classical music is much more diverse than usually thought of, they perform modern classical and “world music” that bridge European, American, African, and Latin musical traditions.
n The meaning of the quintet’s name “imani” means “faith” in the African language Swahili.
Listen Up!Learn more about jazz and classical music on ArtsEdgEwww.artsedge.kennedy-center.org/students/kc-connections
French Horn
Oboe
Clarinet
Flute
Bassoon
David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of the NSO.
WHAT IS A WOODWIND QUINTET? The instruments of a woodwind quintet include flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and French horn. But wait! Why is the French horn, a brass instrument, included in the woodwind quintet? The French horn produces sound by buzzing into a mouthpiece, not blowing across a hole or a reed. It uses valves and tubes to control pitch, not finger holes. It is part of a woodwind quintet because woodwinds traditionally add musical “color” to a performance and the brass section adds “power.”
WHAT IS A WOODWIND? The sound a woodwind instrument makes is produced either by blowing air across the edge of a hole (flute, recorder), across a vibrating reed (clarinet, saxophone), or between a pair of vibrating reeds (oboe, bassoon, bagpipes). Pitch in a woodwind instrument is controlled by selectively covering finger holes or keys. While many of these instruments were originally made of wood, modern woodwinds can be made of wood, metal, or plastic.
IMANI WINDS
A PERFORMANCE AND DEMONSTRAT ION
Rhythm and Melody: The Building Blocks of Music
David M. Rubenstein Chairman
Deborah F. Rutter President
Darrell M. Ayers Vice President, Education
NSO Performance/Demonstrations are made possible in part by the generous support of The Clark Charitable Foundation; Kaplan, Inc.; Mr. James V. Kimsey; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; U.S. Department of Education; and The Volgenau Foundation.
Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David and Alice Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.
Education and related artistic programs are made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts.
www.artsedge.kennedy-center.org
Cuesheets are produced by ArtsEdgE, an education program of the Kennedy Center.
Learn more about education at the Kennedy Center at
www.kennedy-center.org/education
The contents of this Cuesheet have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
© 2015 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Cuesheet P
ER
FO
RM
AN
CE G
UID
E