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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000032.txt from 2008/05
From: BSP6263@-----.com
Subj: [DR-L] Grenadilla Conservation/Oboist Brenda Schuman-Post wins grant
Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 15:15:02 -0400
Dear Doublereed Friends,
African Blackwood trees (grenadilla, mpingo) are designated as =E2=80=9Cvul=
nerable=E2=80=9D=20
and =E2=80=9Cnear threatened.=E2=80=9D=20
I've been awarded a Global Connections grant from Meet the Composer. The=20
grant covers airfare so that I can collaborate with local musicians in Mosh=
i,=20
Northern Tanzania, site of the African Blackwood Conservation Project, to=20
create a new piece of music that will serve as a bond between the Tanzanian=
people=20
who devotedly work to replant and protect those trees and the musicians who=
=20
play the instruments made from them (us).
"This project is about interconnectedness. We will build bridges between ou=
r=20
diverse and codependent cultures. For possibly the first time in history,=20
the Western musical community, still profoundly unaware of the =E2=80=9Cnea=
r threatened=E2=80=9D
status of the primary tree that becomes woodwind instruments, and the=20
African communities that play so unappreciated and yet so significant a rol=
e in=20
Western music, will be bonded through the music that both are responsible f=
or=20
creating." =20
Communities in Tanzania are raising themselves up from poverty by =20
replanting, protecting, conserving and sustainably harvesting blackwood. The=
y are fully=20
aware of the use and importance of the wood to us, yet these collaborative=20
concerts will mark the first time that most will hear the oboe live!=20
Performances will take place in urban and rural communities for community c=
onservation=20
groups, culminating with a performance for the Environmental Day =20
Celebrations in Moshi, Tanzania on September 27th, 2008. It is speculated th=
at once the=20
people finally hear the oboe, they'll become even more motivated and their=20
commitment to blackwood conservation will be reinforced. Since the tree tak=
es=20
90-200 years to mature, it is vital that the children understand the reason=
=20
why they must educate their own children. =20
I hope this message generates discussion. Since the grant only covers my=20
airfare, more funds are needed to pay for lodging and food, pay the Tanzani=
an=20
musicians for rehearsals and concerts, record and mix the new piece, rent=20
vehicles to transport the musicians and equipment to rural areas. The more=20=
money=20
we have, the more concerts we can play and the more communities and familie=
s=20
become educated. In addition, since I make my living exclusively as a=20
freelancer, I will need to make up lost income.
There are several ways that you can help! If each woodwind player who hears=
=20
about this donates $1.00, hundreds of kids will retain musical memory to=20
inspire their children and grandchildren, and thousands of trees will be pl=
anted=20
and protected.
- Please make an online tax deductible donation to=20
_http://blackwoodconservation.org/musicproject08.html_=20
(http://blackwoodconservation.org/musicproject08.html)=20
In the =E2=80=98comments=E2=80=99 box, please write =E2=80=9Cmusic project.=
=E2=80=9D
- or send a check to=20
ABCP c/o James Harris P.O. Box 26 Red Rock, TX 78662=20
On the memo line please write =E2=80=9Cmusic project.=E2=80=9D
- Engage me to present my lecture-performance at your school, university,=20
museum, public or private venue so that this educational process comes full=
=20
circle. Addressing issues connected with music, art especially sculpture,=20
African studies, forestry, sociology, anthropology, botany, and global =20
interconnectedness, my show is "Mpingo's Fruit: Harvesting the Music Tree, t=
he people,=20
the places, the process. Visit: _http://oboesoftheworld.com/perf3mpingo.htm_=
=20
(http://oboesoftheworld.com/perf3mpingo.htm)=20
Can anyone please donate?:
- PC laptop for the Tanzanian composer Sixtus Koromba. Laptop must be =20
capable of editing film, burning CDs etc.
- Movie Camera for Brenda
- Northwest or KLM airline miles so I can use the grant money for travel=20
within =20
Africa.
- American Airlines miles - AA offers an alternative and longer route but=20
will still=20
get me there. =20
=20
Sent with permission from doublereed.org
Many thanks.
Brenda Schuman-Post
www.oboesoftheworld.com
=20
**************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family=20
favorites at AOL Food. =20
(http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=3Daolfod00030000000001)
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