Music & Public Life: Anthony Seeger Talk with Rain Arbo & daisy mayhem and Cross Street A.M.E. Zion Church Choir

Distinguished professor of Ethnomusicology and Director of the Ethnomusicology Archive at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music Anthony Seeger will give the keynote address: “Can We Safeguard Disappearing Musical Traditions? And if We Can, Should We?” He has published numerous articles focused on issues of land and human rights for Brazilian Indians, archiving and intellectual property, and ethnomusicological theory and method. Mr. Seeger was the Executive Producer of all recordings issued on the Smithsonian Folkways label between 1988 and 2000. His keynote address will be followed at 7:45pm by performances by two Middletown groups: Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem, a gleeful string band with sparkling original songs as well as a repertoire that spans 150 years of American music; and the Cross Street A.M.E. Zion Church Choir, singing contemporary gospel, praise and worship music under the direction of Wesleyan University Adjunct Professor of Music and vibraphonist Jay Hoggard.