September 4, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Audiences are invited to experience Argentina and Brazil without a passport in an interactive non-traditional free concert presented by the Oregon Symphony, which showcases two very different national dances of South America on Friday, Sept. 27, at 7 p.m. at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. "Tango vs. Samba: The Cultural Contrasts of South America" is a cultural immersion into tango and samba, the national dances of Argentina and Brazil and features music of Astor Piazzolla, Carlos Jobim and Pixinguinha, as well as dance lessons, special foods from both countries, and costume and instrument displays and demonstrations. The concert is performed by Oregon Symphony Assistant Concertmaster Erin Furbee and her ensemble Tango Pacifico, as well as percussionist Chris Perry and her ensemble Rio Nights and is generously funded by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as part of the "Magic of Music" initiative.
Brazil and Argentina share a common border and the music of both countries can be traced to similar African and European influences, but the resemblance ends there. "Although both dance forms and styles of music are from South America, they actually are very different," says Tango Pacifico leader Erin Furbee. "The tango, the national dance of Argentina, is rather dark and moody, set to minor keys and featuring the haunting sound of the accordion-like bandoneón." Chris Perry, who founded the Rio Nights ensemble, adds, "The samba, which is danced to the music of Brazil, is a very happy, lively dance, and the music is usually written in major keys. It is also much more African-based in its roots and features percussion instruments prominently." In addition to the samba music, Rio Nights will perform some choros, a kind of pre-samba music developed in the late 19th century that fuses elements of early jazz with a more European formal structure.
Tango Pacifico includes Erin Furbee, violin, Jeff Johnson, bass, Mika Sunago, piano, Todd Kuhns, clarinet, and features guest artist Evan Orman on bandonen, an instrument similar to the accordion. Rio Nights includes Chris Perry, percussion, Alfredo Muro, guitar, Todd Kuhns, clarinet, Jan DeWeese, bandolim, Andy Sterling, cavaquinho and percussion, Margaret Lin, voice, Brian Davis, percussion and Derek Reith, percussion. The concert also features demonstrations of tango with dancers Alex Krebs and Carrie Whipple and a samba demonstration with dancers Sheyla Mattos and Donna Oefinger. In addition, there will be a dance floor set up for anyone who wishes to dance to the music during the concert itself.
Dance lessons and demonstrations will begin at 7 p.m, along with samples of food; the music starts at 8 p.m. For more information call 503-228-4294.