UCLA Founds Center for Studying Music's Impact on Humanity
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is set to host an intriguing event titled "Anthem: Remixing Race and Nation" at the Center for Musical Humanities. This new centre, established within the Herb Alpert School of Music, aims to foster interdisciplinary interest in music and the humanities across the university.
The event, scheduled for May 8 at Schoenberg Hall, will consist of a symposium in the afternoon and a live performance leading to a panel discussion in the evening. The symposium will run from 3:30 p.m to 5:30 p.m, followed by the evening concert from 7:30 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.
The program's curator and symposium moderator, Shana Redmond, an associate professor of musicology and African-American studies at UCLA, will lead discussions on various topics. These include Marvin Gaye's reimagining of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the 1983 NBA All-Star game, as presented by Wade Dean, a graduate student in musicology at UCLA.
Renowned scholar and musicology professor Raymond Knapp, the director of the Center for Musical Humanities, will also participate in the afternoon panel. The discussions will delve into the cultural and historical significance of anthems and national symbols, with Cecilia O'Leary, a professor of history at CSU Monterey Bay, providing an overview of nationalism and nationalist symbols in the 19th century.
The evening's performances will be a highlight, with Grammy-nominated songwriter and jazz vocalist René Marie performing the black national anthem, "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing," to the tune of "The Star-Spangled Banner." The evening concert will feature transgressive performances of the national anthem, some performed by UCLA students and faculty, and others compiled in a brief video montage.
Following Rene Marie's performance, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who protested the national anthem in the NBA, will participate in a discussion. UCLA faculty members Shana Redmond and Robin D.G. Kelley will lead a discussion of recent protests associated with the anthem.
Robert Fink, a professor of musicology and chair of the Herb Alpert School of Music's minor in music industry, will discuss Jimi Hendrix's performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Woodstock in 1969 during the afternoon panel.
The Center for Musical Humanities boasts an advisory board with members from various disciplines, including music, humanities, social sciences, theater, film and television, and arts and architecture. For details about the event, including specific speakers and artistic components, please visit the "Anthem: Remixing Race and Nation" website.
This extraordinary event, "Anthem: Remixing Race and Nation," at UCLA's Center for Musical Humanities promises to delve into the realms of education-and-self-development as attendees explore the cultural and historical significance of anthems and national symbols. Furthermore, the event's social-media presence will keep lifestyle enthusiasts updated on performances, discussions, and key insights from renowned speakers in music, history, and humanities, making it an unmissable entertainment spectacle.
