Free Performance at UMass Lowell Showcases Acclaimed Musicians
03/08/2016
Media contacts: Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu and Christine Gillette, 978-934-2209 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu
LOWELL, Mass. – The joyous rhythms of Brazilian music will come to UMass Lowell when the band Receita de Samba performs a free concert for the campus and community.
Led by husband and wife Bill Ward and Anna Borges, Receita de Samba (“recipe for samba”) will present “Musica Brasileira” – music of Brazil – on Thursday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. The event will be held in Durgin Concert Hall at 35 Wilder St. on UMass Lowell’s South Campus. Free parking is available across the street from the venue.
“The concert will be a showcase for Brazilian music, which has had a considerable influence on American recording artists, including jazz musician Stan Getz and The Doors,” said Prof. Frank Sousa, the director of UMass Lowell’s Saab-Pedroso Center for Portuguese Culture and Research, which is presenting the performance together with the Music Department. “The Merrimack Valley boasts a significant population of Brazilian Americans and the event is one way UMass Lowell invites them to learn more about the Saab-Pedroso center and the university.”
Recognized around the world as part of Brazil’s national identity, samba music is perhaps most often associated with the country’s Carnaval, a week-long celebration that ushers in the Christian season of Lent. Growing out of African traditions, the music is marked by its unique tempos and frequent use of stringed and percussion instruments. The band will also play songs in other Brazilian musical styles, including bossa nova, forro, which features the accordion, and choro, which is similar to New Orleans jazz.
“The music of Brazil is a fascinating example of the global impact of Portuguese culture. Samba can be as loud and frenetic as a marching band, or as subtle and nuanced as a melodious whisper,” said Associate Prof. Alan Williams, chairman of UMass Lowell’s Music Department. “We are committed to connecting our students and the surrounding community to rich, vibrant music from around the world and are proud to bring this music to our campus.”
Acclaimed for its virtuosity, Receita de Samba has performed throughout the U.S. and Brazil.
UMass Lowell’s Saab-Pedroso Center for Portuguese Culture and Research presents events and programs that promote an understanding of and appreciation for the cultures, literature and language of the Portuguese-speaking world, which is comprised of more than 230 million people. The center was established in 2013 as a resource for the university community and the public.
UMass Lowell was the first public institution in the U.S. to offer a music education degree. Today, its Music Department offers undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare students for careers as musicians, music teachers, music business professionals and sound recording engineers.
UMass Lowell is a national research university located on a high-energy campus in the heart of a global community. The university offers its 17,500 students bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in business, education, engineering, fine arts, health, humanities, sciences and social sciences. UMass Lowell delivers high-quality educational programs, vigorous hands-on learning and personal attention from leading faculty and staff, all of which prepare graduates to be ready for work, for life and for all the world offers. www.uml.edu