This semester’s World Music Showcase Concert in the College of Creative Arts will feature the WVU African Music and Dance Ensemble, the WVU Steel Band and a special performance by the WVU Javanese Gamelan with shadow puppets and dancers.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3, in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre of the Creative Arts Center.

According to director Michael Vercelli, the repertoire will include music from West Africa, Trinidad and Indonesia.

“The WVU Javanese Gamelan will make its first appearance in almost 10 years, highlighting the concert with a special collaborative work, titled ‘The Elements,’ presented with the WVU Division of Theatre and Dance,” he said.

Using a new composition by Rafael Smith, a student from Brazil who is studying at the Creative Arts Center as part of the Division of Music’s “Music Alive!” exchange program with Brazil, the Javanese Gamelan will interact with both shadow puppets and dancers clad in elaborate costumes designed by WVU costume design professor Mary McClung and choreographed by Heather Ahern, coordinator of the WVU Dance Program.

“This is a collaborative work first conceptualized by Mary McClung,” Vercelli said. “Inspired by traditional Javanese gamelan, dance and shadow puppetry, it illustrates interactions of the natural world.

“Five elements are represented: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Moon, each interacting with each other in unique combinations, choreographed by Heather Ahern.

“The music is based on Javanese musical principles and representative of each element. Interwoven between Rafael Smith’s compositions is the odd-metered framework of Daniel Goode’s “Eine Kleine Gamelan Music,” reoccurring as a transitional motive.”

For tickets and information, contact the Mountainlair and CAC Box Office at (304) 293-SHOW.

-WVU-

College of Creative Arts on the Web – http://www.ccarts.wvu.edu/
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CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4841 ext. 3108, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu