Americanistan Plays at Bend and Redmond Libraries
Posted By: Liz Goodrich
Date Posted: 4/12/2005
Deschutes Public Library pleased to welcome the musical group Americanistan for two programs at the Redmond and Bend Public Libraries. These programs, sponsored by the Friends of the Bend and Redmond Libraries, are part of the Novel Idea … Read Together, community-reading project offered by Deschutes Public Library with the support of the Deschutes Public Library Foundation, The Source Weekly, and KLRR 107.7. The programs are free and open to the public.
Americanistan has been performing together for over 14 years in a variety of settings around the country. The name Americanistan was formed by taking the suffix – istan, which means “my country,” and adding it to American. According to band member, Denise Gilbertson, “we aim to honor the traditions that inspire our music while acknowledging that we are Americans adding our own interpretations.” The members of the band use traditional instruments including the oud, kanun, harmonium and ney flute blended with the rhythms of the dumbek, tambourine and frame drum.
“The instruments are delicate,” says Gilbertson. “They don’t like climate change, they come with fragile reeds and breakable strings. But we think that the charm and magnificence of these instruments makes all the effort worthwhile.” Gilbertson says that Americanistan is dedicated to creating authentic musical experiences. “We do our best to recreate an experience that is true to the music.”
During the months of April and May, the Library will be hosting a variety of events in support of the Novel Idea … Read Together project. The programs are designed to give residents of Deschutes County a glimpse into the culture, history and people of Afghanistan. Much of The Kite Runner, this year’s selected novel by Khaled Hoseini, is set in the author’s native country, Afghanistan. For a complete listing of Novel Idea programs, please call 312-1032.
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