Massachusetts, U.S. – Harvard University Residency
September 22-28, 2011

This residency at Harvard University brought together Silk Road Ensemble musicians with composers Michael Ward-Bergeman and Lev Zhurbin (Ljova) to develop two new pieces. Michael's "Damagomi" is based on Achumawi rituals that call on a "damagomi," a shaman's spirit guide. In a workshop with Korean percussionist and vocalist Dong-Won Kim, this piece was also influenced by traditional Korean shaman music. Ljova's "Everywhere is Falling Everywhere" takes inspiration from the music of Filfel Gourgy, a Jewish Iraqi singer, along with Moroccan wedding music and Korean pansori singing.

While in residence, the Ensemble also had a chance to work with student musicians, including Harvard freshmen composers Stella Fiorenzoli, George Meyer, and Gus Ruchman, who spent an intensive weekend arranging traditional melodies from Galicia and India for the group. Coached by Cristina Pato, Sandeep Das and other Ensemble members, these students completed new arrangements in less than 48 hours. They were performed at a works-in-progress presentation along with the commissioned works on September 26.

Harvard student performers also had a chance to play with the professionals. Stella Chen ('15, violin), Kevin Hu ('15, violin), Bran Shim ('14, bass), Matt Shuham ('15, percussion), Bryant Wright ('12, viola), and Devin Ulibarri (New England Conservatory, guitar) joined the Ensemble for a public performance on September 27. They played in a suite of music inspired by rivers and an encore, "Briel," by John Zorn, in which they each took a turn with an improvised solo.

The public activities of this residency began at the Harvard Business School, where the Ensemble gave a flash concert on Monday, September 26. Students and faculty drawn to the music coming from Spangler Center's main lounge stayed for an informal discussion about cultural entrepreneurship. The event was designed to start a conversation about ways in which the arts and business communities can work together to foster innovation in the cultural arena.

Before departing, Silk Road Ensemble members also visited a class on "The Arts in Education" at the Graduate School of Education, led by Steven Seidel, director of the GSE's Arts in Education Program. Many but not all of the musicians in the Ensemble are also teachers, but all found common ground with the graduate students in a deep discussion about the work of teaching and learning across cultures and through the arts.

Such Silk Road Ensemble residencies are part of our affiliation with Harvard, where the Silk Road Project is collaborating with faculty and students from several schools to explore cross-cultural connections and share learning across disciplines.

Articles about this residency

Silk Road embraces artistic entrepreneurship
October 3, 2011 – Harvard Crimson

On the Silk Road again
September 27, 2011 – Harvard Gazette

Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble entertain and inform at Harvard Business School
September 27, 2011 – Harvard Business School Newsroom

Silk Road Ensemble returns
September 27, 2011 – Harvard Crimson