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Amy Rubin
Amy Rubin
Composer and pianist Amy Rubin has been presenting concerts and lectures throughout the United States, Europe, Ghana, and the Dominican Republic for over 25 years in venues as diverse as Benaroya Hall, the Lincoln Center, and The American Embassy in Ghana. She has been a full-time professor at a number of colleges in the U.S., including the Cornish College of the Arts. As a Senior Fulbright Scholar in Ghana she researched rhythmic systems and produced the country’s first Festival of Ghanaian Music. At Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, she created a festival called “Close Encounters with Music around the World.” She has recorded a number of CDs of original work, including some featuring Egberto Gismonti of Brazil and Argentina’s Astor Piazzolla.
The Fascinating Rhythms of North and South America
A culture’s art reflects its heart and soul and tells much about its history. Ragtime, barrel house, boogie-woogie, tango, milanga, and salsa are musical pieces whose rhythms originated in West Africa and Western Europe. As these rhythms were transported to the new world they took on new flavors, new sounds, new forms, and new meanings to create music which is distinctly American. The audience will be introduced to new ways of listening which will shed light on the technical ingredients that make rhythms fascinating and distinct. Rubin also includes stories about the societies and individuals who created, developed, and shaped the sounds that have become a lasting treasure of American culture.
Dancing to the Beat of a Different Drummer: Reflections of a Researcher in West Africa
As a Fulbright Scholar, Amy Rubin lived, researched and taught in the radically different culture of West Africa while studying its complex rhythms, an experience that transformed the way she listens to music. She went to Ghana to understand why she couldn’t tap her foot to the fascinating rhythms of the Volta region. A year of research helped her understand how people from different cultures hear things differently. Her anecdotes, demonstrations, and videos will reflect the joys and struggles of being a stranger in a strange land whose powerful music reflects celebrations, funerals, and emotional connections through dance and song. Amy will immerse her audience in the sounds and rhythms of Ghana, giving the audience a feel for the country’s fascinating music and culture.
Contact Amy at (206) 948-3951 or by email. She currently lives in Seattle, WA.
Amy Rubin: The Fascinating Rhythms of North and South America from Humanities Washington on Vimeo.
Amy Rubin: Dancing to the Beat of a Different Drummer from Humanities Washington on Vimeo.
