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"Intercultural Journeys in Music"
David Kim
Ohad Bar-David
Simon Shaheen
Sponsored by the URI College of Arts & Sciences

The evening of November 3 promises an extraordinary program of global music, demonstrating not only the best of artistic quality, but also the broad reach of art and the international calling of world-class musicians.

The event is coordinated by David Kim, South Kingstown native, world acclaimed violinist, and concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, who will bring with him three other distinguished musicians of the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as two renowned Palestinian musicians:

• Ohad Bar-David, Philadelphia Orchestra – Cello
• Jonathan Beiler, Philadelphia Orchestra – Violin
• Anna Marie Ahn Petersen, Philadelphia Orchestra – Viola
• Simon Shaheen, composer and producer – Oud and Violin
• Percussionist still to be named

The first part of the evening will be in the hands of the world-class Israeli cellist, Udi Bar-David, president and artistic director of Intercultural Journeys, and member of the Philadelphia Orchestra.  Along with Simon Shaheen, one of the most significant Arabic musicians of his generation and a renowned Palestinian percussionist from New York City, they will offer the flavor of Middle Eastern music, particularly that of the Arab and Jewish cultures.

Intercultural Journeys was founded by several artists who strive to bring the richness of art forms from other cultures to our attention, with the belief that appreciation of other cultures is an important step toward global harmony. "It is our belief that beautiful performances done for the purpose of bringing people together, who might otherwise be in conflict, gives us the opportunity to play a small part in contributing to world peace."

Bar-David and the other musicians will engage in a brief discussion of their performance and their work, with focus on the impact of globalization on today’s artist. Given the fears of an "homogenization" of culture and the seeming dominance of the American music scene in this age of globalization, we are eager to hear their opinions.

The second part of the evening will be devoted to more traditional chamber music with a performance of Antonin Dvorak’s well-known String Quartet No. 12 "American"  in F Major (Opus 96) by our guests from the Philadelphia Orchestra. David Kim has selected this piece, in part, to demonstrate that classical music always has and always will be a global venture. Dvorak, a Czech composer, wrote this quartet in the 1890’s while visiting the town of Spillville, Iowa, blending his own background as a famous European composer with motifs of indigenous American music and culture.

Please join us for this exciting evening on November 3!