Interfaith Works presents:

The 2006
World Sacred Music Festival
OLYMPIA

a celebration of the sacred
through the uplifting music & dance of the world

Saturday May 13, 2006
at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Olympia WA USA

Adzido-West African Drum and Dance led by directors Tiffany and Scott Nicolow.  Tiffany and Scott have taught and performed the music and dances of Ghana, West African for over ten years.  In the early 90's they studied and performed with Master Drummer and Dancer C.K. Ganyo of Ghana, West Africa in his group Adzido (USA).  Tiffany and Scott will be performing with local community members who have been studying dance and drumming with Tiffany and Scott for the last year at the Westside Wellness Center.  Tiffany teaches a dance class every Saturday at 11:00, and Scott teaches drumming at 1:00 p.m.  This performance is dedicated to their teacher C.K.  They have chosen to call this group Adzido (Olympia) in honor of C.K.
contact: 360-970-7066 or strider@planetmail.com

Throat-singing (or overtone-singing) is a unique form of vocalization in which the singer simultaneously produces two or even three notes. The solo two/three-voice singing emerges through the simultaneous sounding of the fundamental which has a gutteral timbre colouring and its upper overtones which are caught and amplified by using the mouth and head as a resonator. Sometimes a special additional subsound joins the lower sound.

Singers from the tiny Asian nation of Tuva are some of the most skilled at throat-singing, and often perform several styles. Devan Miller has traveled to Tuva and studied throat singing, as well as producing concerts of Tuvan musicians and running a Tuva-centered website. His workshop will present throat-singing basics.
www.tuvatrader.com

Douglas Bridges is a Pacific Northwest artist, teacher and performer on the Didjeridu and various other percussion instruments. The range of his musical style spans a diverse variety of genres. Informed by a wide world of traditions, his musical expressions explore experimental as well as some of the folk and classical artistry of many cultures.

His handcrafted Didjeridus have received enthusiastic responses from a variety of musicians and artists from the United States, Canada, Britain, Western Europe, Iceland, and Australia. The Australian Aboriginal musician David Hudson has procured two of Doug's pieces in admiration of their tonal qualities and aesthetics. Doug creates his instruments using a blend of synthetic and natural materials. Through a series of careful steps, he is able to produce a faux wood appearance that remarkably resembles an exotic hardwood.

For over 12 years, Doug has conducted Didjeridu workshops at colleges, universities, festivals and private salons throughout the Northwest and S.E. Alaska. These workshops focus not only on techniques of playing but also on exploring the art of sound -- acoustic adventure is celebrated. The consistent plaudits of the participants have emphasized enjoyment of a workshop atmosphere that is personable, didactic, and filled with interactive fun for all. Practice "Didjeri-tubes" will be available at the interactive performance/ workshop.
contact: (253) 752-8536 or doubri@harbornet.com

EN is a duo bound to Japan, music, and each other, and specializes in sharing contemporary and classical music from Japan. EN's philosophy is to connect - to their audience, the environment, and the moment. Based in Seattle, En plays throughout the Pacific Northwest, and has toured to the Midwest, East Coast, and to Japan.

John and Elizabeth met when they began studying Japanese in 1974. They fell in love with each other, then fell in love with Japan. Since then they have lived in Japan for over a decade, studying Japanese music from master teachers including Sakata Ryozan, Sawai Kazue, Sawai Tadao, and Igarashi Ryozan. Their love for Japanese music and culture comes alive in their warm, intimate, inspired performances. John's shakuhachi flute and Elizabeth's koto create an elegant and meditative mood. Their CD, EN: AFFINITY was released in 2005. 
www.duoen.com

This ensemble of gongs, metallophones and drums was created in the Sundanese region of West Java, Indonesia. Called Gamelan Degung Girijaya, its name means it is a gamelan (gong and drum) ensemble, of the degung style (with the rack of small hanging gongs), with the personal name of Girijaya, which means "Enduring Mountain." Girijaya is a name that connects our gamelan with Mt. Rainier (our own enduring mountain), and Mt. Rainier with the many volcanoes that span Indonesia's many islands. Sean Williams, the director of the current group, has taught with these instruments since 1993.

Gamelan degung ensembles were traditionally performed to welcome visiting dignitaries to the homes of the aristocracy in West Java. Most of the melodies are closely tied to aspects of the natural world: mountains, birds, water, insects, animals. In general, the fewer notes an instrument plays, the more important it is. An unusual connection of the Muslim present with the Hindu past through music makes this a fascinating cross-religious musical practice in which the two religious traditions co-exist serenely.
website

Making Annual trips to The Gambia, Kane Mathis was taught the tradition of Kora (21-string Mandinka harp) by the family of Malimini Jobarteh. In 2000 Kane received recognition by the Gambian Minister of Culture for his cassette "Bantam Ba Kouayte." In 2001 Kane performed at the first annual Gambian heritage festival before the President of the Gambia. In 2004 the American Embassy in Gambia featured Kane's Gambian group Tiramakan Ensemble in a two-hour concert for the Ambassador and Gambian community, which earned him a spot with the same group on Gambian national television. The Kora is one of Africa's most complex chordophones carrying bass and melody simultaneously. Kora was invented about 700 years ago in sub-Saharan West Africa and is in the care of hereditary musicians and storyteller/historians. Following his acclaimed solo appearance at the 2005 festival, Kane brings his trio to this year's festival.
www.kairarecords.com/kane

Kol N'Shama, or Voice of the Soul, is the 18-voice-strong choir of Temple Beth Hatfiloh in Olympia, WA. Formed in 1999, the choir started as a way to enhance annual High Holiday services. It has grown to now sing at monthly Shabbat services and local interfaith events. From wordless melodies to complex poems, Jewish music is important and sacred because it is an expression of Jewish cultural and religious identity.
Temple Beth Hatfiloh: www.bethhatfiloh.org or 360-754-8519

Linda Waterfall's early training included classical piano, music theory, composition and voice training, and a BA in visual art. Her first album of original songs was released on Windham Hill Records in 1977. Since then she has released eight more albums of original compositions; she has played professionally as a bass player and toured with her own rock band, toured the U.S. periodically as a solo musician, worked as an Artist in Residence in Washington, Alaska, and California, composed choral and vocal music for numerous grants and commissions, and worked in recording studios both as a producer and as a session musician. Her most recent compositions reflect a lifelong interest in meditation and mysticism: "That Art Thou: Songs from the Vedas", performed in June 2002 by the University of Washington Chamber Singers at Meany Theater, and "Songs from the Dao De Jing", performed in 2005 by The Evergreen State College's Evergreen Singers, and by Seattle's premiere acapella ensemble, the Esoterics. Linda will perform, accompanying herself on guitar and keyboard, and later host a songwriting workshop.

About the workshop: Come join us, whether you're experienced or a novice, if your process is somewhat "stuck in a rut" and you would like some new ideas to try---or even if you're just plain curious! We will spend the time mostly with hands-on exercises designed to put you in new, and hopefully exciting, territory. Bring your instrument(s), pencil and paper.
www.lindawaterfall.com

Loping Camel is a Pagan Drum Group, having played in and around the Olympia area for the past 10 years. We are inspired by the percussive sounds from around the world. We find that this very inspiration is inherent in the rhythms we play and we believe this is universally magical. This is the spiritual intent behind what we do and is at the heart of our reason for performing.   The dance is a natural expression of connection to the rhythms we hear and feel.  Dancing is our devotion to the beauty and wonder we see, feel, hear and sense in the Earth, the Universe and her People.  We dance because we are moved to do so.  We play because we are moved to do so.  Each of us received our training from various sources drawn from both ethnic and western traditions.  Each song, each dance is offered as a prayer and we are delighted to share this with you. 

Margaret Zugbowicz tells humorous and moving stories that serve as a guide for living because we can all use a little help along the way. The characters in her stories are strong, surprising, and inspiring because we all need to watch someone go before us to show the way to the happy ending. The happy ending in story, a euphuism for peace, the way, the enlightened path, the Kingdom, the presence of God. 

Modibo Traore introduces his audience to the melody and rhythm of the "bougarabou" drum, the voice of the sacred forests of Casamance. The Jola people of Casamance (southern Senegal and Gambia) celebrate maile initiation rites every 20 years, a ritual that takes place in the forest and lasts from two weeks to a full month. Young males will be led into the forest and taught the sacred ways and spirits by their elders. A walakunodoto tree will be split, the trunk carved into 4 large drums, and headed with pegs and skins from a sacrificial cow. In order to call up the friendly spirits and ward off the evil spirits, the bougarabou master will play for several days and nights at a time, drinking a potion of roots and herbs to sustain the intensity. Each drum has a different tone, giving the music melody as well as rhythm. Allow yourself to be transported into the sacred forest as Modibo eases seamlessly from one melody to the next, surprises you with subtle variations in rhythms and texture, and engages your spirit in a lively call-response pursuit.

Since childhood, Modibo has performed traditional ceremonial music in Casamance as well as pop African music with many groups, such as Toure Kounda and I-Case de Sedhiou. In the United States he teaches Jola and Mandinka rhythms, dances, and songs. Modibo brings fresh authenticity, energy and enthusiasm as well as an extensive knowledge of West African culture to America.
www.cafetilibo.com

Mukana Marimba is Olympia’s premier African marimba band. With a full set of seven marimbas—from medium-sized sopranos to a huge bass—the band plays tasty tunes and rocking rhythms in the tradition of the Shona people of Zimbabwe, Africa—with other fun songs thrown in. Great for dancing or just lifting your spirits! Mukana Marimba will perform, and host a marimba workshop so you can learn more about these fascinating African instruments.
www.mukanamarimba.com

The New Life Baptist Church Mass Choir consists of approximately 45 members of the church’s Adult Choir and Youth Choir, both under the direction of Bro. Darriel Menefee. The choir sings a variety of gospel music which, prayerfully, uplifts the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. The church is located at 7873 Pacific Avenue SE in Lacey, Washington. Pastor Anthony R. Obey is our Shepherd.

Also known by his traditional name, Chiokten, Paul Wagner is a native American flutist of the Northwest Coast Salish Saanich tribe. he intertwines songs and stories from the ancient Sissiwiss ("Sacred Breath" or "Sacred Life") spirituality of his tribe and other Northwest Coast Salish tribes. Paul believes that it is important to share this ancient tradition so we can learn to live together and help all people (tree people, animal people, human people).
www.sacredbreath.cc
www.sacredcedarcircle.com
www.johnnymoses.com

RagDharma is an ensemble of Olympia-based musicians studying and performing the sacred music of North India on a fusion of traditional traditional eastern and modern western instruments. Steph Donchey on sitar, Alexei DuCre on tabla, Celia Chantal on silver flute, and Erik Siraaj Correia on fretless bass.

RagDharma will perform one or more ragas from the North Indian Classical genre of music, which has its roots in the sacred texts of india and has been performed for centuries for meditation, the practice of yoga, healing, and entertainment.
www.ragdharma.org

Randi Moe’s bag of stories includes traditional folk tales, funny family pet stories, memories of her own youth, vacation adventures, and glimpses into her ancestors’ lives. She especially loves the stories of the Bible and finds ways to tell them so listeners can hear anew, or for the first time, the wonders of these tales.

She believes that sharing personal stories is a wonderful way to affirm and celebrate the ups and downs of everyday life, both for the teller and the listener. Currently, Randi uses storytelling at an adult day care program where she leads the seniors in remembering their rich life experiences through reminiscing, writing individual/group memoirs and original stories.

Urvassi performs Odissi Dance, a classical dance from India, particularly the rare Mahari style (temple dance) of Guru Pankaj Charan Das. The Mahari style of Odissi dance is derived from the dance of the devadasis (temple priestesses) of the Jagannatha Temple in Puri. The dance was a devotional offering during both morning and evening ritual services. The rare form of the dance performed by Urvasi Dance Company was passed to Dr. Ratna Roy, the company's artistic director and the formost dancer in the style.
www.olywa.net/ratna-david

Seattle’s World Meditation Ensemble is an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization performing sacred and meditational music and sounds from around the world. Their mission is to promote inner and outer peace, multi-cultural awareness and beneficial volitional shifts in consciousness. Since its inception by a Tibetan Buddhist lama in 1999, this inter-denominational ensemble has created nearly 200 Spirit-Fusion™ concerts in secular and sacred spaces.
worldmeditationensemble.com