Few events can bring freshmen choir singers, senior Arab music aficionados, professionally trained musicians, ethnic dancers and music appreciators together for a single show. Cal Poly, however, will host a concert that will do just that.
“A World of Music,” a diverse arrangement of musical selections and performances from many world cultures, will come to Harman Hall in the Christopher Cohan Performing Arts Center (PAC) on Feb. 26. The performance will showcase a collaboration between different musical groups on campus: the Arab Music Ensemble and the Cal Poly choirs, PolyPhonics and The University Singers.
This is the second time the Arab Music Ensemble will collaborate with the Cal Poly choirs, said Ken Habib, assistant professor of ethnomusicology and music history at Cal Poly.
“The first time the Arab Music Ensemble collaborated with the Cal Poly choirs we received tremendous support — the performance was overwhelmingly successful,” Habib said.
Though Habib said he hopes this year’s collaboration will be equally (if not more) successful, he doesn’t believe it is possible or desirable to mimic the first.
“Each performance is different, just like any class or quarter is different,” Habib said. “Students bring different talents and skills, the audience changes and the professionals we bring in alter the show. The only steadfast goal is to improve.”
The quest of this year’s performance is to expose those in attendance to a vast array of musical stylings. The concert will feature each group performing first on its own, then collaborating for the entire second half.
Additionally, San Luis Obispo community dancers as well as internationally acclaimed dancer L’Emir Hassan Harfouche will perform, Habib said.
Saundra Sarrouf is one of the local dancers participating in the show. Sarrouf is the co-director of dancers for the Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble and also teaches Middle Eastern dance in the community. Usually Sarrouf and her fellow dancer Jenna Mitchell choreograph the routines used in the performance. This quarter, a special exception was made.
“Hassan choreographed the dance for this quarter,” Sarrouf said. “He’s a professional, and he can bring something special to the show … a different perspective. It’s what Middle Eastern dance is all about: community and collaboration.”
English junior and clarinet player in the ensemble Megan La Plante agrees with Sarrouf. The power of the music and the richness of the Arabic sound are only fully conveyed when there are vocals and instrumentals, she said, and the dancers add an extra element.
The Arab Music Ensemble, PolyPhonics and The University Singers are quarterly classes at Cal Poly. The ensemble sets itself apart from others since a majority of participating students are non-music majors who have some formal music training and still participate in the music world, Habib said. Often, students who participate in the ensemble pick up instruments they have never seen before at the beginning of the quarter.
“The students do a really remarkable job with the new music,” Habib said. “Most times they have never heard the sounds that come from the instruments I teach, and by the end of the quarter they are playing the instruments successfully.”
Director of choral activities and vocal studies Thomas Davies said his experience with the choirs has been similar to Habib’s experience with the ensemble. Davies estimated that about 80 percent of the choir members are non-music majors.
“I think it’s great, it’s what’s truly unique about the music department,” Davies said. “Most of the students who participate have had formal training at some point and just want to be involved with music still. Students are actively learning about music, playing new instruments, being trained by professionals — you don’t have to be a music major to appreciate that.”
Part of what makes the collaboration enjoyable is the exposure the audience gets to a different sound than they are accustomed to. Arab music is played in a very unique pitch, Habib said, and many Americans have never heard the type of sounds that will be performed.
“Just as with the instruments, to sing Arabic is a feat,” Habib said. “Soloists, especially, have progressed and developed a tremendous amount throughout the quarter. It’s tough stuff. And, we have some very informed audience members — so they know what the music should sound like.”
Not only will those with trained ears enjoy the “World of Music” performance — music lovers of all kinds will be able to appreciate the sound.
“My father-in-law has no formal music training, heard the Arab Music Ensemble last year and cannot wait for the performance,” Davies said. “Everyone can find something to enjoy about it.”
The show will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8 for students, $13, $15 for the public and $12 and $14 for seniors, and can be purchased at the PAC ticket office or online.